image: Schematic representation of the trial protocol and CONSORT flow diagram. ARI, Affective Reactivity Index; CONSORT, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials; GAD--7, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7; PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire--9; t-CBT, tele-cognitive behavioural therapy; t-IPT, tele-interpersonal psychotherapy.
Credit: Luiza Silveira Lucas, Bruno Lo Iacono Borba, Bruno Martini de Azevedo, Alexandro Cagliari, Andreia Rosane de Moura Valim, Edna Linhares Garcia, Silvia Virginia Coutinho Areosa, Alessandra Menezes Morelle, Marzie Rita Alves Damin, Simone Stulp, Alana Castro Panzenhagen, Flávio Milman Shansis.
As it is essential to investigate and compare the effectiveness of various psychotherapies when delivered remotely, to address the gap, a new clinical trial published in General Psychiatry has found that two forms of online psychotherapy—tele-interpersonal psychotherapy (t-IPT) and tele-cognitive behavioural therapy (t-CBT)—are equally effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability in adults.
The study, led by researchers from a number of research institutes in Brazil, randomly assigned 149 adults with emotional distress to receive either t-IPT or t-CBT. Both treatments were delivered through live video sessions and consisted of just four weekly meetings with trained therapists. After the short program, participants in both groups showed significant improvements in mood and emotional stability, with no meaningful difference in outcomes between the two approaches.
Telepsychotherapy—therapy conducted online in real time—has become increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to remove barriers such as distance, cost, and stigma. While t-CBT is already a well-established method for remote treatment, this is the first trial to demonstrate that video-based t-IPT, which focuses on interpersonal relationships and emotional connections, is equally effective.
Researchers noted that both approaches had low dropout rates and were well accepted by participants, suggesting that short, structured online sessions can be both effective and feasible for community use.
“Implementing both t-CBT and t-IPT could help address the shortage of mental health professionals and improve access to care in geographically remote or underserved populations.” said lead author Dr. Luiza Silveira Lucas. “Future studies should evaluate cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes of brief synchronous telepsychotherapies to inform scalable and sustainable mental health strategies.”
This study marks a promising step toward expanding affordable, evidence-based mental health care through digital platforms worldwide.
Journal
General Psychiatry
Method of Research
Experimental study
Article Title
Synchronous tele-interpersonal psychotherapy versus tele-cognitive behavioural therapy for adults: which works better? Results from a randomised clinical trial
Article Publication Date
28-Oct-2025