(Photo courtesy the University of Lethbridge)

By Justin Goulet

U of L research review finds online group therapy beneficial for adults with anxiety and depression

Jan 17, 2022 | 10:40 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new review from University of Lethbridge (U of L) researchers has found that online group therapy can help adults address anxiety and depression.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have profound impacts on the mental health of adults, which led Dr. Cheryl Currie and her team to wonder if there was a way other than one-on-one approaches to addressing these issues. Dr. Currie is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the U of L and the lead investigator on the review.

She said, “we know that psychological counselling delivered by video, phone and apps can work.”

“The catch is that how well these therapies work is often tied to the intensity of web-based therapist guidance. This has time implications for the therapist and cost implications for the client and health-care system.”

The research team systemically searched the scientific literature to determine if psychological treatments delivered by therapists to groups could be effective online.

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Dr. Currie and her team examined over 4,000 articles and found 21 randomized controlled trials that tested if psychological therapies offered to adults in a group format online or by phone were effective.

Based on evidence found, the team concluded that adults who engaged in 8-12 hours of live group therapy with a counsellor or psychologist online experienced major improvements in their anxiety and depression. The therapies were especially effective when delivered via videoconference, when adults could see one another during the sessions.

Dr. Currie noted that human are social creatures and “as a result, psychological supports offered in a group setting can have many therapeutic benefits.”

“This review contributes to our understanding by showing that the benefits of group therapy extend to the online therapeutic environment.”

Dr. Currie said amid the pandemic, “increasing access to high-quality psychological support is something that so many adults could benefit from right now.”

The review was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research on January 11 and can be viewed here.