title: Comorbidity and internet-delivered transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders.
abstract: Internet-delivered transdiagnostic anxiety interventions aim to reduce symptoms across several anxiety disorders using one treatment protocol. However, it is unclear whether comorbidity affects outcomes of such treatment. This study re-examined data from a recent randomised controlled trial (N = 129) that evaluated the efficacy of an Internet-delivered transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) intervention for participants with principal diagnoses of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia (SP) panic disorder and agoraphobia (PDA), of whom 72% met criteria for a comorbid anxiety disorder or depression. Participants were divided into two groups based on whether or not they had a comorbid disorder before treatment. Participants with comorbid conditions reported higher symptom levels at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up across a range of measures. Both groups showed significant reductions in symptoms over treatment; however, participants with comorbid disorders showed greater reductions in measures of GAD, PDA, SP, depression, and neuroticism. In addition, treatment significantly reduced the number of comorbid diagnoses at follow-up. These results indicate transdiagnostic iCBT protocols have the potential to reduce comorbidity.
authors: Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, Australia. luke.johnston@mq.edu.au
authors: Luke
authors: L
authors: Johnston
authors: Nickolai
authors: N
authors: Titov
authors: Gavin
authors: G
authors: Andrews
authors: Blake F
authors: BF
authors: Dear
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Spence
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019114:Remote Consultation; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome