Computer-based psychotherapy
A Global Review of
Cost-effectiveness Research on Computer-aided Psychotherapy for the Treatment
of Mental Health Disorders
Maryan Zirkle, MD, MA
Computer-aided
psychotherapy (CP) is becoming increasingly useful in supporting efforts to
diminish mental health issues on a global scale.
The limited supply of properly
trained therapists and the overwhelming mental health needs in existence
throughout the world, make an alternative solution necessary.
CP might be the
best example of such a solution as it is assumed that it serves to be a
clinical and cost-effective means of delivering successful therapy to patients
suffering from mental health disorders. This may be true, although it is hard
to speak in general terms due to the limited number of quality
cost-effectiveness analyses on the topic of CP and the inadequate number RCTs
of mental health CP systems currently in the literature.
Conclusive statements
can be made relative to cost-effectiveness with respect to a hand full of CP
systems created. This is due to the very small group of researchers
concentrating on this field of mental health informatics. The information
gained from these studies is specific to the CP system and the type of mental
health disorder treated.
Introduction
