JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Internet interventions have been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorders. Most interventions to date focus on single disorders and disregard potential comorbidities.

Objective:

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate feasibility, user experience and effects of a newly developed individually tailored transdiagnostic guided internet intervention for anxiety disorders.

Methods:

This study is an uncontrolled, within-group, baseline, post-intervention pilot trial with an embedded qualitative and quantitative process and effect evaluation. In total, 49 adults with anxiety disorders (Generalized anxiety disorder n=20, Social Phobia n=19, Agoraphobia without Panic n=12, Panic with Agoraphobia n=6 , Panic without Agoraphobia n=4, subclinical depression n=41) received access to the seven-session intervention. We examined motivation and expectations, intervention usage, user experience, impact, and modification requests. Qualitative data were assessed using semi-structured interviews and analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Quantitative outcomes included symptom severity of anxiety and depression (HAM-A, QIDS-C), diagnostic status in clinical interviews (MINI), and web-based self-reports (GAD-7, CES-D, BAI, PAS, SPS, PHQ-9) at baseline and post-assessment. Quantitative data was analyzed by comparing within-group means expressed as Cohen’s d (d).

Results:

The most prevalent reasons for participation were the advantages of online treatment, symptom burden, and openness towards online treatment. Helpful factors included support, psychoeducation and practicing strategies in daily life; the main hindering factors were too little individualization and being overwhelmed by the content and pace. Anxiety symptom severity (HAM-A d=1.19) and depressive symptoms (QIDS-C d=0.42) improved significantly, and 53.8% (21/39) no longer were diagnosed as having any anxiety disorder. The main positive effects were the general improvement of disease burden and attentiveness to feelings and risk situations while the main negative effects experienced were lack of change in disease burden and symptom deterioration.

Conclusions:

The intervention is feasible in reducing symptom severity of anxiety and depression. Future interventions should emphasize individualization even more in order to further improve the fit to individual characteristics, preferences, and needs.