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In the current era of social distancing, remote and Internet-based treatments have largely replaced in-person treatment, but is the substitution equivalent? In a Swedish randomized, noninferiority study of 204 primary care patients (mean age, 39; 70% women; high education levels, 75%) with untreated hypochondriasis (now called somatic symptom disorder or illness anxiety disorder), researchers compared 12 weekly sessions of face-to-face cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with 12 weekly modules of Internet-based CBT (iCBT) involving automated therapy and ad hoc communication with a therapist via an e-mail–like system; therapists also called patients who did not complete assigned modules.
Both treatments reduced preoccupation and anxiety relate…