Computerised CBT (CCBT) offers a new way for Cognitive behaviour therapy to be offered. 19 people who had completed at least 2 sessions of the “Overcoming Depression” CBT-based CDRom were asked to participate in focus group discussions of their experience. They had all participated in a Randomised Control Trial of the effectiveness of Overcoming Depression CDRom for patients on a clinical psychology waiting list. If patients declined participation in a focus group they were offered an alternative of telephone or face to face interviews as a method of gathering this data.

A topic guide was devised after a search of the relevant literature and in conjunction with the researchers of the RCT. A grounded theory approach was utilised to modify the Topic Guide at each of the subsequent focus groups and interviews. All sessions were facilitated and recorded on a digital voice recorder and fully transcribed to aid thematic analysis.

Overall, 14 participants shared their views and experiences. Seven main themes have been identified: People generally liked the approach and found it helpful and useful whilst on a waiting list. Practical and technical suggestions for change were made. It was felt that the intervention would have helped at an earlier stage in illness. The package helped patients in skills acquisition. Other comments related to the role of the nurse as a support. Some participants have valued the anonymity provided by a CDRom based approach and felt it a useful adjunct to individual therapy.