Effectiveness of Digital PTSD Treatment

Abstract

This review provides a systematic overview of the meta-analytic evidence for digital interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was found that tele-psychotherapy using video calls or telephone is robustly non-inferior to face-to-face therapy in improving PTSD symptoms. Although the evidence for group therapy conducted remotely is less robust than that for individual formats, its effectiveness is not inferior to face-to-face psychotherapy. Digital mental health interventions delivered via web applications or mobile apps significantly improved PTSD symptoms compared to waiting-list or usual care groups, especially when the interventions were based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The combined use of face-to-face treatment and digital interventions did not yield conclusive results regarding their effectiveness for PTSD.