Cost-/effectiveness and dissemination of internet interventions for the treatment of somatic and mental health conditions

Abstract

1) Increase insight in the general effectiveness of Internet interventions for somatic conditions and mental disorders. 2) Giving an overview of existing economic evaluations focusing on the cost-effectiveness of Internet interventions for the prevention or treatment of depression. 3) Explore how Internet interventions need tailoring to the unique psychosocial needs of the user – focusing on the role of applied health psychology models. 4) Discuss future development with regard to opportunities and limitations of Internet interventions and recommendations for developing, recruiting dissemination and implementation. Rationale: Internet interventions have a high potential to effectively and cost-effectively treat somatic and mental health conditions. However, whereas the evidence-base of Internet interventions is mainly established for anxiety disorders and depression, the effectiveness of Internet interventions for many other disorders remains unclear. This symposium aims to provide a state-of-the-art insight of Internet interventions for different somatic (chronic) conditions and the cost-effectiveness of Internet interventions for depression. Summary: First, Sarah Paganini will report the first systematic review on the cost-effectiveness of Internet interventions for depression and highlight economic implications. Jiaxi Lin will present effectiveness data of a large-scale study on a online acceptance- and commitment-therapy for chronic pain, depending on the provision of guidance.Third, Joanna Hudson will discuss the unique challenges of engaging, recruiting, and retaining patients in Internet interventions with co-morbid psychological distress and end-stage renal failure. Sandra Schlicker will talk about the usability of an Internet intervention of comorbid depression in chronic back pain patients on sick leave. Anna-Carlotta Zarski will present the effectiveness data of the first RCT trial on an internet intervention for vaginismus. The discussion will be led by Katherine Bradbury who will integrate the above presentations. Furthermore, new directions for opportunities and limitations of Internet interventions and recommendations for developing, recruiting, dissemination and implementation will be discussed.