Computer and psychotherapy - do they fit? Review of the state of development of internet-based and blended interventions in psychotherapy

Modern media have an increasing impact on psychological health services. While the empirical foundation of internet-based interventions for frequently occurring mental disorders grows and their effectiveness is investigated in routine care trials, efforts also exist to transfer the knowledge gained to classical psychotherapy. The resulting treatment format "blended therapy" aims to combine the best of both worlds. After an introductory definition of both terms this overview describes the contents and components of internet-based and blended interventions. Summarizing the current state of research with an emphasis on feasibility, selected quantitative and qualitative articles are presented. The article depicts the development, application and potential of both interventional strategies and focuses on the role of therapist support as well as on the nature of the therapeutic alliance. Strengths and weaknesses of each intervention are addressed and integrated into a strategic perspective.