Internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions have been used for more than a decade, but no comprehensive review and no extensive meta-analysis of their effectiveness have been conducted. We have collected all of the empirical articles published up to March 2006 (n = 64) that examine the effectiveness of online therapy of different forms and performed a meta-analysis of all the studies reported in them (n = 92). These studies involved a total of 9,764 clients who were treated through various Internet-based psychological interventions for a variety of problems, whose effectiveness was assessed by different types of measures. The overall mean weighted effect size was found to be 0.53 (medium effect), which is quite similar to the average effect size of traditional, face-to-face therapy. Next, we examined interacting effects of various possible relevant moderators of the effects of online therapy, including type of therapy (self-help web-based therapy versus online communication-based etherapy), ty...

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A Comprehensive Review and a Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Internet-Based Psychotherapeutic Interventions

Background
The field of Internet-supported therapeutic interventions has suffered from a lack of clarity and consistency. The absence of professional leadership and of accepted governing approaches, terminology, professional standards, and methodologies has caused this field to be diffused and unstructured. Numerous terms have been used to label and describe the activities conducted over the Internet for mental and physical health purposes: web-based therapy, e-therapy, cybertherapy, eHealth, e-Interventions, computer-mediated interventions, and online therapy (or counseling), among others.

Defining Internet-Supported Therapeutic Interventions

Emotional support and suicide prevention through the Internet: A field project report

This article addresses the practical aspects of online counseling, including ethics, training, supervision, technology, and competency issues. The authors discuss online counseling’s strengths and limitations and present guidelines for what types of clients and counseling psychologists may be appropriate for online counseling. To illustrate the components and skills associated with online counseling, the authors present and discuss an example of a synchronous-chat online session.

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The Practical Aspects of Online Counseling Ethics, Training, Technology, and Competency

Background: The provision of psychotherapy over distance using technology is a growing market reaching many patients and therefore the risks and benefits need to be known by all psychotherapists whether they themselves practice online or not. This comprehensive review of the main ethical arguments for and against different forms of online psychotherapy aims to enhance discussion of ethical issues in this growing area. Methods: A search of three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) was conducted in August 2019 using a specific search protocol yielding 249 publications. Results: Of 24 ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy and 32 against, the top five ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy were (1) increased access to psychotherapy and service availability and flexibility; (2) therapy benefits and enhanced communication; (3) advantages related to specific client characteristics (e.g., remote location); (4) convenience, satisfaction, acceptance and increased demand; and (5) economic advantages. The top five ethical arguments against engagement in online psychotherapy were (1) privacy, confidentiality and security issues; (2) therapist competence and need for special training; (3) communication issues specific to technology; (4) research gaps; and (5) emergency issues. Conclusions: The findings may be of help to practitioners in deciding whether to engage in online psychotherapy, and in informing patients about risks and benefits, improving ethical guidelines, and stimulating further ethical discussion. The findings are argumentative and qualitative in nature, and further quantitative research is needed.

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Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review.

Here, a leading provider of online mental health information, Dr. Robert Hsiung, has gathered a group of distinguished contributors to discuss clinical, ethical, and legal issues pertaining to e-therapy. Full of case studies and examples of active programs that deliver mental health information and therapy via new media, E-Therapy offers first-hand accounts of the potential and risks of recent trends in 'distance therapy' and 'telepsychiatry.' Chapters include * The Internet 'Expert': Ronald Pies * An E-Patient's Story: Martha Ainsworth * Chat Room Therapy: Gary S. Stofle * Using E-mail to Support Outpatient Treatment: Joel Yager * Community Telepsychiatry: Sara F. Gibson * An Online Self-Help Group Hosted by a Mental Health Professional: Robert C Hsiung * Principles of Professional Ethics: Robert C Hsiung * Legal Ethics in On-line Mental Health: Nicholas P. Terry

Robert C. Hsiung

Papers

E-therapy : case studies, guiding principles, and the clinical potential of the Internet