The effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for health anxiety in routine care

Title
The effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for health anxiety in routine care
Publication Date
2020-03-01
Author(s)
Newby, Jill M
Haskelberg, Hila
Hobbs, Megan J
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0131-0089
Email: megan.hobbs@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:mhobbs8
Mahoney, Alison E J
Mason, Elizabeth
Andrews, Gavin
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Place of publication
Netherlands
DOI
10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.087
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/28722
Abstract
Introduction: Randomised controlled trials have shown that internet-delivered cognitive behavioural treatment (iCBT) is an effective treatment for health anxiety, but the effectiveness of these programs in routine care has not been investigated. This study examined the effectiveness of iCBT for health anxiety symptoms in routine care settings in the community. Methods: Using an open-trial design, we investigated adherence to, and effectiveness of a 6-lesson iCBT program for health anxiety symptoms amongst individuals (n=391, mean age 41 years, 64% female) who enrolled in the program either self-guided (n=312) or under the supervision of community clinicians (general practitioners, psychologists and other allied health professionals) (n=79). Primary outcome was health anxiety severity on the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), and secondary outcomes were depression severity on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) (depression) and distress (Kessler-10: K-10). Results: Adherence to the iCBT program was modest (45.6% in the clinician-supervised group, 33.0% in the unguided group), but within-subjects effect sizes were large (SHAI: g=1.66, 95%CI: 1.45–1.88; PHQ-9: g=1.12, 95%CI: 0.92–1.32; K-10: g=1.35, 95%CI: 1.15–1.56). Limitations: No control group, lack of follow-up data. Conclusions: iCBT is an effective treatment for health anxiety symptoms in routine care, but methods to increase adherence are needed to optimise benefits to participants. Randomised controlled effectiveness trials with long-term follow-up are needed.
Link
Citation
Journal of Affective Disorders, v.264, p. 535-542
ISSN
1573-2517
0165-0327
Start page
535
End page
542

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