Web-based therapist-assisted cognitive behavioral treatment of panic symptoms: a randomized controlled trial with a three-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Internet-delivered treatment may reduce barriers to care in those unwilling or unable to access traditional forms of treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To assesses the efficacy of web-based therapist-assisted cognitive behavioral treatment (web-CBT) of panic symptoms.


METHODS
A randomized waiting-list controlled trial with an uncontrolled three-year follow-up.


METHODS
A community sample of 58 participants with chronic panic symptoms of varying severity (immediate treatment: n=27, waiting-list control: n=31).


METHODS
The primary outcome measures were a one-week Panic Diary and the Panic Disorder Severity Scale - Self-Report (PDSS-SR); secondary measures were the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ), the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ), the Mobility Inventory - Alone subscale (MI-AAL), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42).


RESULTS
In the RCT, 54 participants (93%) completed posttest measurements. With regard to the primary outcome measures, intention-to-treat ANCOVAs revealed that participants in the treatment condition improved more than the participants in the waiting-list control condition (p<.03), with a pooled between-group effect size of d=.7. After three years (n=47; 81% study compliance), effects were more pronounced.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate the efficacy of therapist-assisted web-CBT in the treatment of panic symptoms.
University of Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ruwaard@interapy.nl
Jeroen
J
Ruwaard
Janneke
J
Broeksteeg
Bart
B
Schrieken
Paul
P
Emmelkamp
Alfred
A
Lange
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult