Researchers: Jonathan D. Huppert ¹

Background: Access to evidence-based therapies in Israel is limited due to limited resources, limited availability of clinicians, and stigma. Internet-based interventions may help address this issue, particularly for anxiety and depression. Therapist-guided, internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) has demonstrated efficacy, implementation in Israel did not exist at the beginning of this study. We conducted research on willingness and readiness to use ICBT in Israel.

Objectives: To examine the degree of and predictors of acceptability of patients, professionals and the general population to ICBT for depression and anxiety.

Method: Five surveys were conducted: 1) a brief survey of 520 individuals, representative of the general Israeli population; 2) a convenience sample of 242 adults and 3) 333 various physicians/mental health professionals. In addition, we surveyed 1019 individuals who registered for treatment for anxiety and 364 individuals who registered for ICBT for depression. Of those who registered, 90 patients with panic disorder and 39 patients with major depression were treated with ICBT and data were collected regarding acceptability and adherence.

Findings: 20-30% of individuals are likely to be interested in ICBT, but this can go up to 50-70% if they receive brief information, if travel to treatment is longer than 30 min, and if waitlists are longer than 3 months. It is important to address patient and practitioner concerns about efficacy, ease of use, and most importantly, ability to form a therapeutic relationship via ICBT.

Recommendations: Dissemination of ICBT in Israel is feasible, but requires coordination of health care providers on various levels. Attrition is somewhat higher than face-to-face interventions, but the scalability and access to those who otherwise would not seek treatment makes it worthwhile to add ICBT to existing interventions. Therapists need to be trained, and some shifts administrative bureaucracy will need to be addressed.

Research end date: 08/2020