Group telepsychotherapy for reducing depression: An exploratory study

The need for mental health care far exceeds the availability of mental health care providers. This is particularly true as it applies to military personnel, retired military personnel, and their family members. To help meet the increasing demands for mental health car providers, videoconferencing technologies provide an alternative mental healthcare delivery capability. This research study examined the effectiveness of videoconferencing on group cognitive behavioral psychotherapy for reducing depression. The study compared outcome and process data on a therapist-led cognitive behavioral therapy group conducted via videoconference to a therapist-led cognitive behavioral therapy group conducted in the traditional face-to-face manner. Participants for both groups were drawn from a population representative of active duty and retired uniformed services members and their families with a diagnosis of depression. Significant and equivalent reductions in depression were reported by participants in both groups and the group climate was perceived similarly by individuals in both groups. The participants of the group conducted via videoconferencing had a positive perception of the treatment and indicated they would be willing to use telepsychotherapy again.