Treatment of panic disorder: live therapy vs. self-help via the Internet

Behav Res Ther. 2005 Oct;43(10):1321-33. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2004.10.002. Epub 2004 Dec 13.

Abstract

A randomized trial was conducted comparing 10 individual weekly sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy for panic disorder (PD) with or without agoraphobia with a 10-module self-help program on the Internet. After confirming the PD diagnosis with an in-person structured clinical interview (SCID) 49 participants were randomized. Overall, the results suggest that Internet-administered self-help plus minimal therapist contact via e-mail can be equally effective as traditional individual cognitive behaviour therapy. Composite within-group effect sizes were high in both groups, while the between-group effect size was small (Cohen's d=16). One-year follow-up confirmed the results, with a within-group effect size of Cohen's d=0.80 for the Internet group and d=0.93 for the live group. The results from this study generally provide evidence to support the continued use and development of Internet-distributed self-help programs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agoraphobia / psychology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anxiety / complications
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Panic Disorder / complications
  • Panic Disorder / psychology
  • Panic Disorder / therapy*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Quality of Life
  • Self Care / methods*
  • Telemedicine / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome