Email a Friend
Printer Friendly

Panic cured by self-help via Internet

May 06, 2004

Cognitive behavioral therapy via the Internet cures anxiety just as well as traditional treatment with personal sessions. This is shown in a study by psychologist Per Carlbring at Uppsala University in Sweden. In his doctoral dissertation he demonstrates that nine out of ten individuals who tried self-help via the Internet were free from panic after 12 months. The method of treatment is now going to be tested at a hospital in Stockholm.

According to the dissertation, 200,000 Swedes have had recurrent unexpected panic attacks during the last year. The attacks have been followed by a period of at least one month during which the individual has had persistent anxiety about experiencing new attacks, has been worried about the meaning of the attacks (that is, loss of control, heart attacks, going crazy), or has undergone considerable behavioral alterations as a result of the attacks.

These attacks are extremely unpleasant, but the panic syndrome has a good prognosis. But this is true only with treatment, and three fourths never seek care owing to shame, high costs, and limited availability of the proper kind of psychotherapy.

Studies in Europe have shown that 70-95 percent of patients who undergo cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) achieve lasting freedom from panic after 12-15 sessions and evince clear improvement of associated problems, such as avoidance and depression.

In an attempt to make the techniques of CBT more accessible and at the same time increase its cost effectiveness, psychologist Per Carlbring has investigated whether the good effects of CBT treatment could be converted into self-help treatment administered via the Internet, with minimal contact with a therapist via e-mail. He has shown in his dissertation that nine out of ten individuals who commence Net treatment are rid of their panic syndrome diagnosis in the 12-month follow-up. Patients dare to do things they had previously avoided and, despite this, have substantially lower anxiety and depression, as well as improved quality of life. The treatment, based on effective CBT, is just as helpful if it is given via the Internet as in traditional personal sessions. However, it appears to be crucial that there are clear time limits for carrying out the various elements of the treatment, and that continual contact with a therapist is an integral part of the treatment program.

This Internet treatment is now being tested in health care for the first time, starting at the Karolinska Hospital.

VetenskapsrÃ�det (The Swedish Research Council)

RSS Feeds

Panic cured by self-help via Internet

Science Research Departments