The role of computer-aided psychotherapy within an NHS CBT specialist service

To date, the feasibility of computer-aided psychotherapy as an intervention has only been recognised in primary care practice. The present study sought to evaluate the impact of 'Beating the Blues' (BtB), an established computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (CCBT) self-help programme for the management of anxiety and depression, within an NHS CBT specialist healthcare centre. Of the 555 service users who used BtB as part of routine care, with follow-up assessment at six to eight weeks, 71% completed all eight sessions. Statistically significant differences on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were found in completer and intention-to-treat analyses; 50% of completers achieved reliable change on the BDI-II and approximately 25% of completers achieved reliable and clinically significant change on both measures. Outcomes were benchmarked against outcomes in studies of routine face-to-face CBT. These findings provide evidence that BtB may be of value to service users in secondary mental healthcare centres, alleviating current burdens on public health and therapeutic resources. Future research directions should include examining which factors influence individuals' decisions to try computer-aided psychotherapy, which individuals are best suited to using these interventions, and why some users drop out prior to programme completion.