Last but not least: psychotherapy via cell phone app

However, this form of psychotherapy would not replace a live therapist. However, online therapy lowers the inhibition threshold, can bridge long waiting times for patients and is location-independent. However, internet therapies are not suitable for everyone and for all mental illnesses, especially not for complex cases. Anette Kersting from Leipzig University Hospital says that internet services are "a supplement" to traditional treatment, where therapist and patient sit opposite each other.

The University Hospital has already completed two research projects on internet therapies - for women who have lost their child during pregnancy and for patients with binge-eating disorder who suffer from recurring binge eating. Those affected were given writing tasks over a longer period of time; communication with the psychotherapist took place on a protected platform. "Such therapies work just as well as comparable outpatient treatments," says Kersting. This was apparently also confirmed by a study conducted by researchers from Leipzig and Zurich. They also make it easier for many sufferers to seek help because anonymity is maintained. "Nobody sees the patient going into a psychotherapist's practice," says Kersting.

However, the psychosomatic specialist also points out the limitations of remote treatment: patients with complex clinical pictures, severe depression or those at risk of suicide cannot be adequately cared for in this way.

In Switzerland, the University of Zurich offers online therapy for depression, trauma or prolonged severe grief, while the University of Bern offers therapy for social phobia. A kind of "virtual psychologist's practice" is Psy-help-online.ch. These services are currently not covered by basic insurance. In other countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands, online-assisted therapy is already part of the regular care system.

Patients who are unable or unwilling to pay for such internet therapy themselves can also find numerous self-help services on the internet that are structured similarly to a guidebook, but also offer exercises and, if necessary, feedback from experts. These include, for example, Deprexis.de and Novego.de, which promise help for mild to moderate depression, burnout or phobias.

Despite all the possible advantages, a general tendency towards social media and despite the attitude of not wanting to regulate every little thing online; self-help books, guides, online therapy - sounds a little suspicious without rules for the standards to be adhered to. A person seeking help probably doesn't want to have to think about which guidebook meets the regular standards of a good form of therapy. But the main thing is that there is an app. (uma/SDA)

Image: Psy-help-online.ch