Internet-based treatment of phobias in specialized mental health care: randomized trial (WC2008-080)

Background

Starting date: 01/01/2009  Background

The prevalence of phobias is high and face-to-face treatment not easy available. Research among other psychiatric disorders (e.g. depression) has shown that face-to-face treatments are not always necessary. Self-help interventions, in which patients work through a standardized psychological treatment independently, are also often effective in reducing symptoms. In this project we will develop a web-based intervention for phobic patients. This intervention is based on exposure therapy. We will examine whether such a self-help intervention can be used for phobic patients in regular mental health care.

Objectives

In this study we will (1) develop a web-based intervention for phobia’s (2) examine it’s feasibility in regular mental health care, and (3) examine indications of effectiveness.

Methods

This study is a randomized trial for phobic patients waiting for psychotherapy. All phobic patients (> 18 years) who are put on the regular waiting list for psychotherapy are eligible. Patients who start with pharmacotherapy, or whose medication dosage needs to be changed, will be excluded. Half of the patients will receive the web-based self-help intervention with coaching trough e-mail, the other half will not. Both groups are offered face-to face treatment afterwards.
Primary outcome is the feasibility of the intervention, secondary outcomes are the reduction of phobic symptoms and the number of face-to-face sessions afterwards.

Staff and partners

Faculty of Psychology and Education:

B. Schreuders, PhD, post-doc (ga.schreuders@psy.vu.nl)
A. van Straten, associate professor (a.van.straten@psy.vu.nl)
Prof. P. Cuijpers, head of department

Faculty of Medicine
H. van Hout, Phd, senior researcher

VU Psychiatry/ Stichting BuitenAmstel Geestgronden
Prof. S. Visser
Prof R. van Dyck
M. de Neef, Msc

Links
www.allesondercontrole.nu/fobieen

Results
Not yet available.

Publications
Not yet available