{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,29]],"date-time":"2026-10-29T22:03:07Z","timestamp":1793311387289,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,11]],"date-time":"2024-01-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1704931200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Hum. Neurosci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>This systematic review examined the existing literature to determine the evidence supporting the efficacy of online group treatments for anxiety-, obsessive-compulsive- and trauma-related disorders (AOTDs).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A systematic review using the PUBMED, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials databases with no language, date, or study design filters was performed. The inclusion criteria comprised studies that examined individuals who had received a formal diagnosis of AOTDs, were aged 18 years or older, and had baseline and endpoint assessments of symptom severity using formal tools.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Five studies on social anxiety disorder (SAD), four on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and one on tic disorders (TDs) were found. The studies were open-label (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 2) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 8), with five of the RCTs being non-inferiority trials. Most studies were conducted in the US and investigated psychological CBT based interventions via internet-based therapies (IBT: <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 4), video teleconferencing (VTC: <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 5) or a combination of both (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 1). In SAD, IBT studies associated with a clinician assisted web-based forum (here termed \u201cforum-enhanced\u201d studies) were superior to waiting lists and not inferior to similar versions that were also \u201cforum enhanced\u201d but self-guided, \u201ctelephone enhanced\u201d by a contact with a non-specialist, and \u201cemail enhanced\u201d by a contact with a clinician individually. Studies involving VTC have shown comparable effectiveness to in-person interventions across some online group CBT based treatments for PTSD. Two open trials also demonstrated symptoms reductions of social anxiety and tics through VTC.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>There is evidence supporting the effectiveness of online group treatments for SAD and PTSD. Further studies from different research groups may be needed to replicate the use of these and other forms of online treatments in individuals with SAD, PTSD, and other clinical populations, such as OCD, panic disorder, agoraphobia and specific phobias.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:ext-link>https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/prospero\/<\/jats:ext-link>, identifier CRD42023408491.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2023.1286865","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,11]],"date-time":"2024-01-11T13:35:39Z","timestamp":1704980139000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Online group therapies for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders: a systematic review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Luana D.","family":"Laurito","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samara","family":"dos Santos-Ribeiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria E.","family":"Moreira-de-Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carla P.","family":"Loureiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ver\u00f4nica","family":"H\u00fchne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bianca","family":"Torres","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Livi Ferreira Testoni","family":"de Faro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriela B.","family":"de Menezes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leonardo F.","family":"Fontenelle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beth.2017.09.002","article-title":"New directions in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of OCD: Theory, research, and practice.","volume":"49","author":"Abramowitz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Behav. Ther."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1016\/j.schres.2014.03.021","article-title":"Online, social media and mobile technologies for psychosis treatment: A systematic review on novel user-led interventions.","volume":"156","author":"Alvarez-Jimenez","year":"2014","journal-title":"Schizophr. Res."},{"key":"B3","year":"2013","journal-title":"Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1303","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291713001943","article-title":"Barriers to mental health treatment: Results from the WHO World Mental Health surveys.","volume":"44","author":"Andrade","year":"2014","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1016\/j.janxdis.2018.01.001","article-title":"Computer therapy for the anxiety and depression disorders is effective, acceptable and practical health care: An updated meta-analysis.","volume":"55","author":"Andrews","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Anxiety Disord."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1037\/a0027924","article-title":"Videoconferencing psychotherapy: A systematic review.","volume":"9","author":"Backhaus","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychol. Serv."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1177\/0269881114525674","article-title":"Evidence-based pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A revision of the 2005 guidelines from the British Association for Psychopharmacology.","volume":"28","author":"Baldwin","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Psychopharmacol."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.3109\/13651501.2012.667114","article-title":"Guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive\u2013compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder in primary care.","volume":"16","author":"Bandelow","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Psychiatry Clin. Pract."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1080\/15228830802094429","article-title":"A comprehensive review and a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions.","volume":"26","author":"Barak","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Technol. Hum. Serv."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"897","DOI":"10.1017\/S003329171200147X","article-title":"Global prevalence of anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-regression.","volume":"43","author":"Baxter","year":"2013","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/hup.2686","article-title":"Treatments used for obsessive\u2013compulsive disorder\u2014An international perspective.","volume":"34","author":"Brakoulias","year":"2019","journal-title":"Hum. Psychopharmacol."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1002\/hup.2541","article-title":"International prescribing practices in obsessive\u2013compulsive disorder (OCD)","volume":"31","author":"Brakoulias","year":"2016","journal-title":"Hum. Psychopharmacol. Clin. Exp."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/16506073.2017.1401115","article-title":"Internet-based vs. face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric and somatic disorders: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"47","author":"Carlbring","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cogn. Behav. Ther."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brat.2019.05.003","article-title":"The online treatment of suicidal ideation: A randomised controlled trial of an unguided web-based intervention.","volume":"119","author":"De Jaegere","year":"2019","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Ther."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1136\/jech.52.6.377","article-title":"The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions.","volume":"52","author":"Downs","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Epidemiol. Commun. Health"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11920-018-0910-2","article-title":"Digital technologies in the treatment of anxiety: Recent innovations and future directions.","volume":"20","author":"Firth","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr. Psychiatry Rep."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1258\/135763307780677604","article-title":"A randomized trial of telepsychiatry for post-traumatic stress disorder.","volume":"13","author":"Frueh","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Telemed. Telecare"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S85","DOI":"10.4103\/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_516_18","article-title":"Exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A review and new directions.","author":"Hezel","year":"2019","journal-title":"Indian J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-017858","article-title":"Road to resilience: A systematic review and meta-analysis of resilience training programmes and interventions.","volume":"8","author":"Joyce","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1007\/7854_2009_9","article-title":"Epidemiology of anxiety disorders","author":"Kessler","year":"2009","journal-title":"Behavioral neurobiology of anxiety and its treatment. Current topics in behavioral neurosciences"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.2147\/CIA.S57832","article-title":"Comparing telehealth-based and clinic-based group cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with depression and anxiety: A pilot study.","volume":"9","author":"Khatri","year":"2014","journal-title":"Clin. Interv. Aging"},{"key":"B22","first-page":"1","author":"Koran","year":"2013","journal-title":"Guideline watch (March 2013): Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. APA Practice Guidelines."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18041746","article-title":"Telemedicine treatment and care for patients with intellectual disability.","volume":"18","author":"Krysta","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21037\/mhealth.2019.11.04","article-title":"Therapeutic groups via video teleconferencing and the impact on group cohesion.","volume":"6","author":"Lopez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mhealth"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1177\/07067437211027319","article-title":"Face-to-face versus video teleconference group cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A preliminary comparison.","volume":"67","author":"Milosevic","year":"2022","journal-title":"Can. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"855","DOI":"10.4088\/JCP.09m05604blu","article-title":"Telemedicine for anger management therapy in a rural population of combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized noninferiority trial.","volume":"71","author":"Morland","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Clin. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.1002\/jts.20661","article-title":"Group cognitive processing therapy delivered to veterans via telehealth: A pilot cohort.","volume":"24","author":"Morland","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Trauma Stress"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"470","DOI":"10.4088\/JCP.13m08842","article-title":"Cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder delivered to rural veterans via telemental health: A randomized noninferiority clinical trial.","volume":"75","author":"Morland","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Clin. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"730","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cbpra.2021.04.011","article-title":"A preliminary examination of the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of a telehealth cognitive-behavioral therapy group for social anxiety disorder.","volume":"28","author":"Nauphal","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cogn. Behav. Pract."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S1754470X22000198","article-title":"The effectiveness of remote therapy in two London IAPT services.","volume":"15","author":"Nguyen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cogn. Behav. Therap."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13643-016-0384-4","article-title":"Rayyan-a web and mobile app for systematic reviews.","volume":"5","author":"Ouzzani","year":"2016","journal-title":"Syst. Rev."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijsu.2021.105906","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews.","volume":"88","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Surg."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2017.09.056","article-title":"Drop-out and efficacy of group versus individual cognitive behavioural therapy: What works best for obsessive-compulsive disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis of direct comparisons.","volume":"258","author":"Pozza","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40814-021-00818-y","article-title":"Feasibility and acceptability of an online mindfulness-based group intervention for adults with tic disorders.","volume":"7","author":"Reese","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pilot Feasibility Stud."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1038\/mp.2008.94","article-title":"The epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the national comorbidity survey replication.","volume":"15","author":"Ruscio","year":"2010","journal-title":"Mol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brat.2016.07.001","article-title":"A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved? A three-arm randomized controlled trial comparing internet-based clinician-guided individual versus group treatment for social anxiety disorder.","volume":"84","author":"Schulz","year":"2016","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Ther."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"514","DOI":"10.1093\/jpepsy\/jsab029","article-title":"Families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders during COVID-19: A scoping review.","volume":"46","author":"Shorey","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Pediatr. Psychol."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.31887\/dcns.2017.19.2\/dstein","article-title":"Epidemiology of anxiety disorders: From surveys to nosology and back.","volume":"19","author":"Stein","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dialogues Clin. Neurosci."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-020-1495-2","article-title":"Mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders in the ICD-11: An international perspective on key changes and controversies","volume":"18","author":"Stein","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC medicine"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"492","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beth.2020.07.002","article-title":"Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy: A transdiagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis for mental health outcomes.","volume":"52","author":"Thompson","year":"2021","journal-title":"Behav. Ther."},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1030","DOI":"10.1080\/00048670802512107","article-title":"Shyness 3: Randomized controlled trial of guided versus unguided internet-based CBT for social phobia.","volume":"42","author":"Titov","year":"","journal-title":"Austr. N. Z. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1080\/00048670802119762","article-title":"Shyness 1: Distance treatment of social phobia over the Internet.","volume":"42","author":"Titov","year":"","journal-title":"Austr. N. Z. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"920","DOI":"10.1080\/00048670903179228","article-title":"An RCT comparing effect of two types of support on severity of symptoms for people completing Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for social phobia.","volume":"43","author":"Titov","year":"2009","journal-title":"Austr. N. Z. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.psychotherapy.20200034","article-title":"Obstacles, challenges, and benefits of online group psychotherapy.","volume":"74","author":"Weinberg","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Psychother."},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brat.2022.104226","article-title":"Remote mental health care interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: An umbrella review.","volume":"159","author":"Witteveen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Ther."},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2015.10.001","article-title":"Remote cognitive-behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive symptoms: A meta-analysis.","volume":"43","author":"Wootton","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin. Psychol. Rev."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Human Neuroscience"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnhum.2023.1286865\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,11]],"date-time":"2024-01-11T13:35:44Z","timestamp":1704980144000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnhum.2023.1286865\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,11]]},"references-count":46,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fnhum.2023.1286865"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnhum.2023.1286865","relation":{},"ISSN":["1662-5161"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1662-5161","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,11]]},"article-number":"1286865"}}