Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Sep 18, 2025
Date Accepted: Oct 15, 2026
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Arabic-Speaking Patients with Panic Disorder
ABSTRACT
Background:
Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) has proven effective for anxiety disorders, including panic disorder (PD), but research on its effectiveness across cultures and languages is limited.
Objective:
This study explored the effectiveness of ICBT for PD in Arabic and investigated potential cultural differences in anxiety sensitivity (AS) between Arabic and Hebrew speakers in Israel.
Methods:
Six Arabic-speaking patients received ICBT. Assessments of PD symptoms, AS, and agoraphobic avoidance were conducted pre-treatment, weekly, post-treatment, and at 3-month follow-up.
Results:
Results were compared with Hebrew-speaking patients from a previous study. Four patients completed treatment, showing significant symptom improvement, with three maintaining their improvement at follow-up. Two patients dropped out due to time constraints and severe symptoms. No significant cultural differences were found in PD measures or AS subscales.
Conclusions:
ICBT seems effective for Arabic-speaking patients with mild to moderate PD, supporting wider implementation without major cultural adaptations. Qualitative feedback highlighted cultural considerations including communication preferences, family involvement, and need for culturally relevant examples. Specific cultural adaptations could enhance engagement while maintaining treatment effectiveness. Larger, more diverse samples are needed in future research. Clinical Trial: Not applicable
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