Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of web-based treatment for phobic outpatients on a waiting list for psychotherapy: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

BMC Psychiatry

Study Protocol

Pim Cuijpers¹  Robin N Kok¹  Annemieke van Straten¹  Judith Bosmans²  Aartjan Beekman³  Manja de Neef⁴ 

[1] Department of Clinical Psychology and the EMGO institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081, BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081, Amsterdam, HV, The Netherlands;Department of Psychiatry and the EMGO institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 7057, 1007, Amsterdam, MB, The Netherlands;Dutch Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Utrecht, The Netherlands;

关键词: Phobias;    Phobic disorders;    Web-based intervention;    Internet therapy;    Randomised controlled trial;    Cost-effectiveness;    Outpatients;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-244X-12-131

 received in 2012-05-23, accepted in 2012-08-22,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPhobic disorders are highly prevalent and constitute a considerable burden for patients and society. As patients wait for face-to-face psychotherapy for phobic disorders in outpatient clinics, this time can be used for guided self-help interventions. The aim of this study is to investigate a five week internet-based guided self-help programme of exposure therapy in terms of clinical effectiveness and impact on speed of recovery in psychiatric outpatients, as well as the cost-effectiveness of this pre-treatment waiting list intervention.Methods/designA randomised controlled trial will be conducted among 244 Dutch adult patients recruited from waiting lists of outpatient clinics for face-to-face psychotherapy for phobic disorders. Patients suffering from at least one DSM-IV classified phobic disorder (social phobia, agoraphobia or specific phobia) are randomly allocated (at a 1:1 ratio) to either a five-week internet-based guided self-help program followed by face-to-face psychotherapy, or a control group followed by face-to-face psychotherapy. Waiting list status and duration are unchanged and actual need for further treatment is evaluated prior to face-to-face psychotherapy. Clinical and economic self-assessment measurements take place at baseline, post-test (five weeks after baseline) and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after baseline.DiscussionOffering pre-treatment internet-based guided self-help efficiently uses time otherwise lost on a waiting list and may increase patient satisfaction. Patients are expected to need fewer face-to-face sessions, reducing total treatment cost and increasing speed of recovery. Internet-delivered treatment for phobias may be a valuable addition to psychotherapy as demand for outpatient treatment increases while budgets decrease.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register NTR2233

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Kok et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012