Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) for common mental disorders and subsequent sickness absence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: The study aimed to critically review and synthesize the best available evidence about the effectiveness of therapist-guided internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) in terms of reducing sickness absence (SA).

Methods: We searched Medline (PubMed), Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central (up to November 2020) for English language peer-reviewed papers that described randomized controlled trials of therapist-guided iCBT compared with usual treatment for SA in adults with common mental disorders. Eligible studies were assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 1 tool, meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model, and standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.