Computer-based therapy for mild depression and anxiety should be available to all patients in England from April, the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, said today.
Ministers hope the two computer programmes Fear Fighter and Beating the Blues will provide patients with an alternative to medication.
But experts warned that the computerised cognitive behavioural therapy would not be suitable for all patients and called for extra funding to train and recruit more therapists.
Guidance issued today by the Department of Health recommends that local NHS trusts provide the computer therapy to patients with mild or moderate depression or anxiety before prescribing drugs. People would be able to access the computerised therapy at home or in their local library, as well as in health facilities.
The two programmes teach patients how to deal with stressful situations and negative thoughts.
Beating the Blues treats people with mild to moderate depression.
Fear Fighter is aimed at people who have phobias or suffer from panic attacks. It prompts users to record a diary of what frightens them. Users are then asked to select specific scenarios that trigger anxiety, such as leaving the house, driving or going to a pub.
They are then told to set goals to try to deal with this anxiety. For example, someone anxious of using buses is asked to sit on a bus for 30 minutes without running off. It also offers advice on techniques to control breathing in the event of a panic attack.
Ahead of the launch of the guidance at the mental health charity Mind's annual conference in Bournemouth, Ms Hewitt said: "We want to offer patients even greater choice over how, when and where they are treated. On April 1, we will reach the first milestone in our drive to provide choice - namely quicker access to computer-based self-help services to stop mild mental health problems becoming worse."
The chief executive of Mind, Paul Farmer, said computerised therapy would make it easier and more convenient for people to get treatment. He said: "Its immediacy will benefit people who have been waiting months or even years to see a therapist."
But Mr Farmer warned computerised therapy would not suit everyone, and face-to-face treatment should still be offered. He said: "It is important that there is a choice of options."
Clinical psychologist Martin Bamber welcomed the move, saying computerised therapy was an effective first line of treatment for people with depression and anxiety disorders.
But Dr Bamber, head of cognitive behavioural therapy at Bootham Park hospital, York, added that computer therapy should not be seen as a replacement for face-to-face treatment. He cautioned that patients needed input from a mental health professional and advised caution before allowing people to use the computer programmes unsupervised at home.
Windy Dryden, professor of psychotherapeutic studies at Goldsmiths College, London, said computerised therapy would help those patients who "didn't want to talk about their problems" because they felt too embarrassed or awkward.
But he warned that computer programmes lacked flexibility, and would not allow patients to explore their problems in more depth if they wanted to. He said: "We need a flexible approach."
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a form of psychotherapy that aims to positively change beliefs and behaviour. It is usually time limited with patients attending around 12 sessions.
Swindon GP Peter Crouch said trials of computerised therapy at his practice suggested it could prove highly beneficial for patients.
Dr Crouch said: "We have patients who have logged in from work, home and anywhere they can access the internet. As we have many patients who travel, some have logged in from halfway around the world to continue the programme of support."
