Effectiveness of internet-based trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (I-TF-CBT) on reducing the symptom severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and positive and negative affect in patients with PTSD: A quasi-experime
Researcher Bulletin of Medical Sciences,
Vol. 30 No. 1 (2025),
20 June 2026
,
Page e5
Abstract
Background: Considering the high prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its comorbid mental disorders, and considering the vast number of patients diagnosed with mental disorders who remain without suitable mental health treatment, employing online methods of delivering mental health therapies seems to be mandatory.
Objectives: The present research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Internet-based Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-TF-CBT) on reducing the symptom severity of PTSD and other comorbid mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and positive and negative affect among patients diagnosed with PTSD. Materials and Methods: The study design was quasi-experimental. Of the 450 individuals who completed the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), 83 were selected via purposive sampling and interviewed using the SCID-5 clinical interview. Finally, 24 participants were eligible to receive I-TF-CBT. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires, namely Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), online and in three time periods i.e., before, after, and one month after receiving I-TF-CBT. Finally, after the removal of a number of participants, the collected data from 19 participants was analyzed in SPSS-26, using repeated measures ANOVA statistical analysis method.
Results: The findings revealed that I-TF-CBT was effective in reducing the symptom severity of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and negative among patients with PTSD. However, this effectiveness was not significant with regard to positive affect.
Conclusion: This was the first study that investigated the effectiveness of I-TF-CBT on various variables among those diagnosed with PTSD in Iran. The findings revealed that I-TF-CBT was effective with regard to many variables among this population. Nevertheless, more research is needed in order to reach a better conclusion about the effectiveness of this treatment on different variables, especially positive and negative affect.
- Stress disorders; Post-Traumatic;Cognitive behavioral therapy; Depression, Anxiety; Affect
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