Guided Internet-based self-help for symptoms of anxiety and depression : a feasibility study

Abstract

Background: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) is constantly increasing in popularity. iCBT can be offered to many people at a low cost, with minimal therapist time, and good efficiency. Even though iCBT has proved to be efficient, adding therapist support, in general, increases the efficacy. Aims: The primary aim was to assess the efficacy of a self-guided transdiagnostic iCBT program on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and functional impairment. A secondary aim was to understand if therapist support would affect the efficacy and adherence to the program. Method: 24 participants with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms underwent a six-week transdiagnostic iCBT program where half of the participants also received therapist support. To analyse the symptom reduction from pre- to post-treatment, and to assess the differences in symptom reduction between treatment groups, a mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in all self-assessment scores from pre- to post-interview. Participants who received therapist support reported less functional impairment post-treatment than the ones that didnt receive support (F(1, 22) = 53.114, p = .045). The group that received support appeared to have had a more positive experience of the treatment. Conclusions: The present findings indicate that self-guided transdiagnostic iCBT may be efficacious for treating mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and functional impairment, where support could increase positive experience, affect adherence and engagement, as well as having a positive effect on functional impairment.Keywords: internet-delivered treatment, transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy, anxiety, depression, functional impairment, guided-self-help, therapist support.