PSYCHOTHERAPY
On the computer, not the couch
Psychotherapy over the Internet is effective, according to a clinical study at the University of Bern.
The internet can also harbour suitable solutions to mental disorders. | Photo: Unsplash
Cognitive behavioural therapy can help in cases of schizophrenia – but often, people don’t have the money for it, or therapists have no free openings. But the psychologists Thomas Berger and Stefan Westermann from the universities of Bern and Hamburg have carried out a controlled clinical study proving that an Internet-based variant can function similarly well, and can help to reduce hallucinations. This is an option for people who are afraid of undergoing therapy because of the supposed stigma involved.
Stefan Westermann et al.: Internet-Based Self-Help for Psychosis: Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (2020)
