title: A Feasibility study on Combining Internet-Based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with Physical Exercise as Treatment for Panic Disorder--Treatment Protocol and Preliminary Results.
abstract: Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) is a recommended, cost-effective and efficacious treatment for panic disorder (PD). However, treatment effects in psychiatric settings indicate that a substantial proportion fail to achieve remission. Physical exercise improves symptoms in patients with PD, and acts through mechanisms that can augment the effect of ICBT. The feasibility of combining these two interventions has not previously been investigated, and this was the aim of this study. The intervention comprised guided ICBT combined with one weekly session of supervised and two weekly sessions of unsupervised physical exercise for a total of 12 weeks. Treatment rationale, procedures and protocols are presented together with preliminary results for four patients with PD who have currently finished treatment. Quantitative and qualitative results are reported on the feasibility of adhering to the treatments, treatment outcome as assessed by clinician rating and estimation of reliable and clinically significant change for outcome measures, and participants' satisfactions with the combined treatment. The preliminary results indicate that the combined treatment is feasible to complete, and that the combination is perceived by the participants as beneficial.
authors.affiliation: a Solli District Psychiatric Centre (DPS) , Nesttun , Norway.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hovland
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Trond
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sjøbø
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vøllestad
authors.forename: Inger Hilde
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Nordhus
authors.forename: Ståle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pallesen
authors.forename: Odd E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Havik
authors.forename: Egil W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Martinsen
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nordgreen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Internet-based CBT; anxiety; feasibility; panic disorder; physical exercise