Caractéristiques et évidences empiriques des traitements psychologiques basés sur Internet

Over the past decade, a large spectrum of Internet-based interventions for various psychological disorders has been developed. Internet-based treatments vary considerably in their characteristics, and a multitude of interventions, ranging from purely self-help to email therapy, are nowadays available. These approaches are used during different phases in the mental health care system. Some Internet-based interventions are integrated into face-to-face therapy, whereas others are completely self-contained. This review focuses on “guided self-help” interventions, which have received the most attention in the literature. Recent studies have shown repeatedly and consistently the efficacy of such interventions, especially for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Regular contact with a therapist, however, seems to be an important condition for success. Indeed, purely self-help approaches show significantly less efficacy and adherence to treatment. Many questions still remain open for further research.