Patient experiences with internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for multi-system functional somatic disorder: A...

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for functional somatic disorder (FSD), but access to treatment remains limited in many countries. Studies indicate that internet-based CBT (iCBT) for FSD might improve accessibility and scalability without compromising effectiveness. However, most research on iCBT for FSD has relied on quantitative designs, providing limited insight into participants' subjective experiences with this digital approach.

This study aimed to explore the experience of receiving iCBT for FSD, with a focus on how participants experienced the therapeutic process, the online format, the role of the therapist, and the outcome of the treatment.

In total, 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted following a three-month post-treatment assessment in the context of a larger randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of therapist-assisted iCBT for multi-system FSD. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed by two researchers using reflexive thematic analysis.

Three themes were identified: 1) "Helpful - but not Enough" explored the participants' descriptions of the changes they observed following treatment, 2) "Reversing a History of Overexertion" described how participants had engaged with the treatment content, and what they had found helpful in their therapeutic process, 3) "Psychotherapy is Hard" addressed the factors that facilitated or hindered engagement with the digital treatment.

Findings from this study indicate that participants with FSD found iCBT to be relevant, acceptable, and helpful. Furthermore, future iCBT development should adopt an iterative, user-centered design approach to continually identify and mitigate barriers to engagement while strengthening key facilitators.