Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study
IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 and the accompanying COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on people's well-being, both physically and mentally. The pandemic continued to affect people even after its end was declared. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is a psychological treatment alterna...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Digital Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1504217/full |
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| author | Victoria Aminoff My Björklund Elina Ekström Andrea Stenback Uzma Yousafzai Matilda Berg Mikael Ludvigsson Mikael Ludvigsson Mikael Ludvigsson Gerhard Andersson Gerhard Andersson Gerhard Andersson |
| author_facet | Victoria Aminoff My Björklund Elina Ekström Andrea Stenback Uzma Yousafzai Matilda Berg Mikael Ludvigsson Mikael Ludvigsson Mikael Ludvigsson Gerhard Andersson Gerhard Andersson Gerhard Andersson |
| author_sort | Victoria Aminoff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 and the accompanying COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on people's well-being, both physically and mentally. The pandemic continued to affect people even after its end was declared. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is a psychological treatment alternative that is effective for several types of psychological symptoms and conditions. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of ICBT for psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic in adults aged 18 years and older during the final phase of the pandemic. Since the psychological impact of the pandemic varies among individuals, individually tailored ICBT was examined, in which participants receive different treatment content based on their needs.MethodsA within-group study was conducted with 24 participants, receiving individually tailored ICBT during eight weeks with weekly support from a therapist. Participants received one module per week, which was selected based on the participant's specific symptoms and needs. Of the 24 participants, 16 (66.7%) were assessed as probably meeting the diagnostic criteria for post-COVID syndrome. Pre- and post-treatment measurements using self-report questionnaires for several psychological symptoms were administered online.ResultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, loneliness, and exhaustion. Small increases were observed in a measure of CBT knowledge, whereas no significant changes were found in stress, quality of life, experience of cognitive failures, and economic stress. Participants completed on average 3.96 out of 8 modules, with five (20.8%) completing all modules. Fifteen (62.5%) of the 24 participants completed the post-treatment measurement. Three participants (12.5%) withdrew from the study.ConclusionOverall, the results indicate that individually tailored ICBT with weekly support from a therapist is a feasible treatment for psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic in its final phase. However, larger studies with more participants are needed to draw further conclusions regarding the effects of ICBT during the final phase of a pandemic. The treatment could be further developed to benefit a broader range of participants. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-64911224b02d43df94f94e73e28a5fb5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-253X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-64911224b02d43df94f94e73e28a5fb52025-08-20T02:05:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2025-06-01710.3389/fdgth.2025.15042171504217Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility studyVictoria Aminoff0My Björklund1Elina Ekström2Andrea Stenback3Uzma Yousafzai4Matilda Berg5Mikael Ludvigsson6Mikael Ludvigsson7Mikael Ludvigsson8Gerhard Andersson9Gerhard Andersson10Gerhard Andersson11Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Psychiatry in Linköping, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SwedenIntroductionSARS-CoV-2 and the accompanying COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on people's well-being, both physically and mentally. The pandemic continued to affect people even after its end was declared. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is a psychological treatment alternative that is effective for several types of psychological symptoms and conditions. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of ICBT for psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic in adults aged 18 years and older during the final phase of the pandemic. Since the psychological impact of the pandemic varies among individuals, individually tailored ICBT was examined, in which participants receive different treatment content based on their needs.MethodsA within-group study was conducted with 24 participants, receiving individually tailored ICBT during eight weeks with weekly support from a therapist. Participants received one module per week, which was selected based on the participant's specific symptoms and needs. Of the 24 participants, 16 (66.7%) were assessed as probably meeting the diagnostic criteria for post-COVID syndrome. Pre- and post-treatment measurements using self-report questionnaires for several psychological symptoms were administered online.ResultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, loneliness, and exhaustion. Small increases were observed in a measure of CBT knowledge, whereas no significant changes were found in stress, quality of life, experience of cognitive failures, and economic stress. Participants completed on average 3.96 out of 8 modules, with five (20.8%) completing all modules. Fifteen (62.5%) of the 24 participants completed the post-treatment measurement. Three participants (12.5%) withdrew from the study.ConclusionOverall, the results indicate that individually tailored ICBT with weekly support from a therapist is a feasible treatment for psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic in its final phase. However, larger studies with more participants are needed to draw further conclusions regarding the effects of ICBT during the final phase of a pandemic. The treatment could be further developed to benefit a broader range of participants.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1504217/fullCOVID-19internet-based cognitive behavioral therapypsychological treatmentpost-COVIDfeasibility study |
| spellingShingle | Victoria Aminoff My Björklund Elina Ekström Andrea Stenback Uzma Yousafzai Matilda Berg Mikael Ludvigsson Mikael Ludvigsson Mikael Ludvigsson Gerhard Andersson Gerhard Andersson Gerhard Andersson Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study Frontiers in Digital Health COVID-19 internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy psychological treatment post-COVID feasibility study |
| title | Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study |
| title_full | Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study |
| title_short | Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a feasibility study |
| title_sort | internet based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological symptoms during the final phase of the covid 19 pandemic a feasibility study |
| topic | COVID-19 internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy psychological treatment post-COVID feasibility study |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1504217/full |
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