Participants’ Experiences of Mechanisms of Change in Internet-Delivered Affect Phobia Therapy: A Qualitative Interview Study

Abstract There is emerging evidence that internet-delivered psychodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective in treating common anxiety and depressive disorders. However, there is limited previous research about how these therapies work. Ten participants from internet-delivered PDT trial for mixed anxiety and mood symptoms were interviewed. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The analysis resulted in five themes describing various aspects of the treatment that the participants found meaningful in relation to their overall change process. Salient aspects included a more accepting relationship with one’s emotions, the importance of the therapeutic relationship and increased insight into the relationship between one’s emotions and defences. The findings broadly align with previous qualitative and quantitative research on change mechanisms in internet-delivered PDT as well as with the affect phobia model on which the treatment is based.