Associate Professor Matsumoto of Kagoshima University Confirms High Treatment Response and Remission Rate Using learningBOX

learningBOX, Inc. is pleased to report that the e-learning system, learningBOX, has been used by Kazuki Matsumoto, PhD, Division of Clinical Psychology, Kagoshima University Hospital, Research and Education Assembly Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Kagoshima University, in a study using a distance cognitive behavioral therapy program, and that high treatment responsiveness (significant improvement in symptoms) and remission (alleviation of symptoms to the point where the patient has no trouble in daily life) were confirmed for obsessive-compulsive disorder (symptoms are alleviated to the point where they do not bother patients in their daily lives).

Summary

Kazuki Matsumoto, PhD. (Child Development), clinical psychologist, and licensed psychologist, works to promote ICBT (Internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) with the goal of alleviating the suffering and improving the quality of life of people with mental health problems.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), a face-to-face treatment for psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, has been common in the past. However, due to time and location constraints, it could not be smoothly provided to patients who needed treatment. He began developing ICBT (Internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which allows patients to receive cognitive behavioral therapy online, and adopted learningBOX as its platform.

He developed an ICBT program utilizing learningBOX and implemented a self-help program for three disorders: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and panic disorder. Through the clinical trial, significant improvement in symptoms was observed in most patients after the test treatment.
*For detailed symptom improvement details, refer to Case Studies.

Kazuki Matsumoto continued his research and found that ICBT was effective in improving subthreshold (not meeting diagnostic criteria) social anxiety symptoms in adolescents, and is also working on new approaches in other disorders such as gaze-phobia.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) conducted the Patient Survey in 2020. According to the survey, the number of patients with anxiety disorder (total estimated number of outpatients) is reported to be 30,400. Since not all patients visit medical institutions and some suggest that the number of patients with anxiety is even higher, the demand for ICBT, which allows patients to receive treatment from the comfort of their own home, is likely to increase further in the future.

Challenges and Solutions

Background and Challenges

• Conventional CBT is generally face-to-face treatment, and the treatment has a high hurdle due to time and location constraints.
• Platform must be easy for everyone to use because of its relevance to ICBT implementation rates and treatment effectiveness.

Decisive Factors

• Course building with no code (development without writing source code)
• Simple, intuitive, and easy for everyone to use

Solutions

• ICBT utilizing learningBOX revealed high treatment responsiveness (significant improvement of symptoms) and remission (alleviation of symptoms to the point where they do not bother patients in their daily lives) through repeated engagement in a disease-specific cognitive behavioral therapy program.
• Easily configurable content, contributing to higher program implementation rates and effectiveness
• A study by six universities and one high school, led by Kagoshima University, to examine the effectiveness of an ICBT self-help program for adolescent social anxiety using learningBOX was nominated as a finalist for the Well-Being Award at the Bett Asia Awards 2024.
  (Related release: Six Universities and One high school, including learningBOX and Kagoshima University, nominated as finalists for the "Bett Asia Awards 2024" Well-Being Award)

■ To read the case study, click here

Kazuki Matsumoto

Profile
PhD., Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Psychologist in Child Development, completed the United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University in 2019. He specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, using a wide range of methods including treatment theory research, case reports, epidemiological methods observational and intervention studies, and meta-analyses; since 2020, he has focused on research and development on internet cognitive-behavioral therapy; 2023 Best Paper Award in "Cognitive Therapy Research" Award. He has published 39 research papers (including 24 by the first author) with h-index 10 and i10-index 10 by 2024.
Kagoshima University
Research and Education Assembly Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Kagoshima University Hospital, Japan
Address: 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima City, 890-8520
Position: Lecturer (Research Associate Professor)
Researcher Information:https://researchmap.jp/matsumoto_kazuki

Case Studies

Download our customers' testimonials. They describe their challenges and how learningBOX solve them.

■ To download PDFs, click here