Empowering Veterans through virtual care
Research has found that internet-based cognitive therapy is a viable option for Veterans to manage their mental health care needs and take charge of their lives
Canada’s Veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces have unique and very specific mental health care needs – including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and new research has examined how an internet-based delivery method for treatment can help. Currently, it is estimated that 13 to 18 per cent of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans will experience some form of PTSD and more than 28 per cent have symptoms of depression.
As an international leader in military and Veteran mental health research, the MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Research Centre is dedicated to conducting innovative research to solve emerging challenges in military and Veteran mental health.
With virtual care on the rise and increasingly long waitlists for care, the research team led by Centre Scientific Director Dr. Donald Richardson wanted to analyze the use of Internet-Based Cognitive Therapy (iCBT) for Veterans and military person populations. iCBT delivers cognitive behavioural therapy through a computer, phone or mobile device often guided by a mental health professional. It has gained popularity during the past three years due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goals of research project were to determine if there were benefits to iCBT; to learn more about how it compares to in-person care, and to understand the considerations that should be factored into the care.
“There have been tremendous advances when it comes to digitized care,” says Jenny Liu, PhD, a member of the research team and Head of Scientific Development and Knowledge Mobilization of the MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Research Centre. “The use of telehealth, for example, has skyrocketed by about 145 per cent since the pandemic.”
Funded with donor support through St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, the research team conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review of 20 different studies in 2021 to evaluate the effectiveness of iCBT. The research was published earlier this year in BMC Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed journal.
In short, the research concluded that iCBT is a viable alternative to in-person therapy, in some circumstances.
Liu says the research found that iCBT may be a ‘little bit less’ effective compared to in-person, however it is still very effective and complementary when receiving other treatments like medication.
Dr. Richardson added sometimes people feel internet-based intervention is like ‘a poor cousin of treatment’ but this research shows there are some interventions that are internet-based and are very helpful.
“This research is foundational to driving advancements in this line of care delivery for this population,” says Anthony Nazarov, PhD, a member of the research team and Associate Scientific Director of MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Research Centre.
The research team believes iCBT empowers individuals, giving them options to take charge of their lives and provide options for their care journeys.
“There are people who suffer for years and years because they think PTSD or depression can’t be treated,” says Dr. Richardson. “iCBT can help and it is more readily available. It’s about empowering Veterans and the military population with options so they can take charge of their lives.”