| Summary: | Approximately 65% of the world's population experiences at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines a traumatic event as direct exposure, witnessing, or indirect exposure to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. Although it is possible to recover naturally from the psychological effects of trauma exposure, some affected individuals may develop prolonged symptoms and mental health afflictions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. These conditions are associated with decreased quality of life, disability, and increased mortality. Treatment strategies for PTSD commonly include pharmacotherapy (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) and psychotherapy, which are used separately or in combination with one another. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one the most frequently used psychotherapies for treating PTSD and its effectiveness is supported by a large body of evidence. Like other established psychotherapies, the traditional form of CBT is delivered through face-to-face sessions between the individual and a therapist. However, access to traditional CBT can be impeded by a number of factors such as financial costs and the ability to pay, perceived stigma, potentially scarce geographic availability (e.g., in rural or remote areas), and long wait times. In Canada and elsewhere, internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) is increasingly being considered or implemented as a way to improve access to treatment and services for mental health conditions, including PTSD.
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