METHODS article
Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Public Mental Health
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1657309
This article is part of the Research TopicEmerging Perspectives in Psychiatry: Innovations and Insights from Early Career ResearchersView all 3 articles
Introducing Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) in the Latvian government-funded mental health sector
Provisionally accepted
- 1Rigas Stradins University, Department of Residency, Riga, Latvia
- 2National Centre of Mental Health, Rīga, Latvia
- 3Riga Stradins University, Department of Residency, Riga, Latvia
- 4Rigas Stradins University, Faculty of Medicine, Riga, Latvia
- 5Rigas, Stradins University, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Riga, Latvia
- 6National Mental Health Center, Department of Depression and Crisis., Riga, Latvia
- 7Child and Adolescent Resource Centre, Riga, Latvia
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As mental health challenges grow globally, innovative interventions are being sought. Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) offers a promising alternative to traditional psychotherapy-reducing costs, improving accessibility, and addressing healthcare worker shortages in the public sector-essential for Latvia, where many people live in rural areas, have limited income and there is a lack of mental health specialists, making it difficult for patients to access psychological support. In 2024, Latvia launched its first government-funded iCBT pilot. This study introduces the framework and implementation strategy of the Latvian iCBT pilot, done in collaboration with Finland's HUS and the HealthFox platform. The program targets young adults from the age of 18 to 25 with mild to moderate depression and anxiety, based on validated clinical thresholds (PHQ-9 >8, GAD-7 >10). The population clinical symptoms were designed similarly to previous experience with iCBT evaluated in Finland. The structured therapy, delivered through a mobile app, includes weekly guided sessions, personalized therapist feedback, and interactive digital modules. This article examines the architecture of the pilot-its referral system, therapy modules, data collection process, and therapist responsibilities. Also, it is looking at it within broader global evidence on iCBT efficacy, dropout rates, and patient satisfaction.
Keywords: Digital therapy, cbt, Anxiety, Depression, iCBT, Psychotherapy
Received: 01 Jul 2025; Accepted: 15 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kince Laus, Sile, Novickis, Romanovska, Taube and Dambiņa. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Liene Sile, liene.silis@gmail.com
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