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Evaluating the efficacy of an internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for fertility stress in women: a feasibility study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2022

Rakel Rut Bjornsdottir ,
Fjola Dogg Helgadottir  and
Magnus Blondahl Sighvatsson
Rakel Rut Bjornsdottir
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland
Fjola Dogg Helgadottir
Affiliation:
AI Therapy, Vancouver, Canada
Magnus Blondahl Sighvatsson*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland
*
*Corresponding author. Email: magnblo@ru.is
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Abstract

Background:

Women who are trying to conceive may be at risk of experiencing psychological distress. However, only a small proportion receive appropriate care, although interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can effectively reduce levels of distress.

Aims:

Our aim was to determine the efficacy and feasibility of an internet-based CBT intervention, called Overcome Fertility Stress (OFS).

Method:

Fifty-five women who were struggling with conception were offered 3-month access to OFS, which is a fully automated yet individualized program via pre-programmed text, video and audio files. The program tailors its intervention around the symptoms the users report to the program.

Results:

Significant improvements were demonstrated on infertility-related stress, with small-to-large effect sizes (d = 0.49 to 0.75). Furthermore, there was a significant decline in symptoms of depression and stress from pre- to post-treatment (d = 0.41 to 0.42, respectively). Finally, participants expressed overall satisfaction with the intervention.

Conclusions:

These preliminary results suggest it is feasible and effective for women who experience fertility stress to receive an internet-based CBT intervention. Finally, these results add to the literature on the effectiveness of psychological treatments for those who struggle with fertility issues.

Keywords

cognitive behavioural therapyfertility-related stressinternet-based intervention
Type
Brief Clinical Report
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , March 2023 , pp. 180 - 185
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

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