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. 2022 Apr 29;19(9):5425.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095425.

Internet-Based Psychological Interventions during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An Experience in South of Italy

Grazia D'Onofrio  1 , Filomena Ciccone  1 , Giuliana Placentino  1 , Maria Placentino  1 , Cinzia Tulipani  1 , Annamaria Prencipe  1 , Gabriella De Vincentis  2
Affiliations

Internet-Based Psychological Interventions during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An Experience in South of Italy

Grazia D'Onofrio et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an increasing demand for online psychological intervention. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of received support in internet-based psychological intervention group (I-IG) patients, compared with a wait-list control group (CG). The Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale 7-item were administered. After participants had used the internet-based solution, the System Usability Scale was administered. In total, 221 patients (194 patients supported by internet-based interventions and 27 patients supported onsite) were included in intervention group, and 194 patients were included in CG. In a 6-month follow-up, participants in the I-IG demonstrated significant improvements in terms of PTSD risk (p < 0.0001, d = 0.64), depression (p < 0.0001, d = 0.68), and anxiety (p < 0.0001, d = 1.33), compared to the CG. Significant improvements in onsite intervention group patients with a large to very large effect size of PTSD risk (p < 0.0001, d = 0.91), depression (p < 0.0001, d = 0.81), and anxiety (p < 0.0001, d = 1.62) were found. After internet-based solution use, I-IG patients reported a very high usability and functionality (72.87 ± 13.11) of online intervention. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2-related mental health problems can be improved by internet-based psychological intervention. The usability and functionality evaluation of online solutions by technological tools showed very positive results for the I-IG patients.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; internet-based support; mental health; post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

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Figure 1
Flowchart of intervention.
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Grants and funding

This work was fully supported by “Ministero della Salute”, I.R.C.C.S. Research Program, Ricerca Corrente “Malattie complesse e terapie innovative” and by the “5 × 1000” voluntary contribution.