A comparison of computer-based versus traditional individual psychotherapy.

Professional psychologists are challenged to determine the appropriate use of interactive computer therapy programs. Although such programs have the potential of enhancing delivery of mental health services and reaching ever broader audiences, they raise serious clinical, legal, ethical, and practical concerns. This article reports on a controlled clinical trial comparing short-term tradi-tional individual therapy with a computer-based intervention overseen by a therapist. Results were favorable and comparable in both conditions, with individual therapy outperforming computer-based therapy on some measures. The practitioners use of computer-based psychotherapy inter-ventions is discussed and some guidelines offered. Computer technology is changing the face of psychother-apy. Should interactive programs be used as an adjunct to treatments? Should they be recommended for use without other treatment? If so, for what diagnostic groups and with what precautions should they be recommended? Should some clients explicitly be warned against unsupervised interven-tions? An American Psychological Association task force (Nickelson, 1997) report has cited a minefield of legal, ethical, and financial issues of concern to psychologists interested in these new technologies.