The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially increased online psychotherapies due to the impossibility of participating in vis-a-vis settings. In the last years, research about online therapy has been quickly growing. However, until now, few studies investigated patients’ perspective about the transition to online psychotherapy and, specifically, no qualitative research in group therapy has been done on this topic. This study aimed to explore the experience of 51 patients (39 group patients and 12 from individual psychotherapies) who continued psychotherapy in the online setting during the COVID-19 outbreak. A structured online questionnaire with open answers investigated the following topics: setting online, effectiveness, psychotherapy relationship, specific dynamics of online psychotherapy. Patients’ answers were analysed by means of Consensual Qualitative Research, modified version (CQR-M), an inductive method that allows analysing a large sample and relatively brief written answers. The results show the impact of shift to online platforms on patients and explore how easy or difficult it is for them to adapt to therapeutic processes are in online therapy (vs. in-person therapy), by highlighting potential barriers and resources to practice implementation. Participants’ responses have been arranged into three main domains: setting online, content/effectiveness of online therapy and therapeutic relationship. A fourth domain, specific for online group therapy, collected responses referred to the changes perceived regarding the group dynamics. From the patient’s perspective, online therapy is effective and satisfying. Patients perceived a positive quality of therapeutic relationship in online setting, whereas produced more controversial judgments concerned the changes due to the online setting. Finally, patients in group therapy gave more attention and importance in showing and seeing private personal spaces than the ones in individual therapy.

The COVID-19 pandemic, a period of uncertainty and risk, has presented a threat to people’s physical and mental health worldwide. Previous research has shown that pandemic-related uncertainty can contribute to individuals’ psychological distress and coping responses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and risk perception (i.e., individual’s perceived likelihood of becoming infected both for themselves and people in one’s own country and perceived severity of the infection), and the mediating role of fear of COVID-19. This two-wave longitudinal study (T1 = April 2020; T2 = May 2020) involved 486 young adults (age range = 18–29 years; Mage = 23.84 ± 2.94). Participants provided demographic data as well as measures of intolerance of uncertainty, fear of COVID-19, and risk perception. Structural equation modeling showed that intolerance of uncertainty was indirectly related to risk perception through fear of COVID-19. The study confirms the central role of IU in fear management and, consequently, in determining individuals’ risk estimates.

In questo articolo gli autori hanno esplorato, attraverso un questionario strutturato con risposte sia aperte che chiuse, l'esperienza di 39 pazienti che hanno proseguito la psicoterapia di gruppo nel setting online durante il periodo di restrizioni dovute alla pandemia. Sono state indagate diverse aree: il setting, che comprende le reazioni iniziali alla necessità del transito online, le sensazioni nel mostrare e poter vedere gli spazi privati dei partecipanti e dei terapeuti, le difficoltà relative al mantenimento della privacy, l'efficacia clinica, connessa a aspetti positivi e negativi della nuova modalità; la relazione terapeutica, che esplora l'alleanza con i terapeuti e con il gruppo, nonché le rappresentazioni emergenti; e lo stile di conduzione del terapeuta e le dinamiche di gruppo. I risultati sono stati confrontati con la letteratura italiana e internazionale.