Is The Computer The Future Of Psychotherapy?

In the July issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, a review and an accompanying editorial by Porf. Isaac Marks and Collaborators (London, UK) examine the state of the computer-aided cognitive therapy (CBT) with special reference to anxiety disorders.

Therapist time is not saved either by conducting CBT via e-mail, telephone or video-conference exchanges between patient and therapist in real time.

Time is saved when treatment tasks can be delegated to patient-computer interactions. The news id that affordable access to effective self-help is available because of specific programs.

Patients may want to access CBT at home by computer for reasons of greater confidentiality, lessening of stigma and reduction of time needed to travel to a therapist.