Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37494105›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2023

Evaluation of a Web-Based Self-Help Intervention for Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Julian Rubel, Jannis Quest, Luise Pruessner, Christina Timm, Steffen Hartmann, Sven Barnow, Lisa Rittmeyer, David Rosenbaum, Christopher Lalk

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Julian RubelFaculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Gießen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9625-6611
Jannis QuestFaculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Gießen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7273-7244
Luise PruessnerFaculty of Behavioral and Empirical Cultural Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4796-9682
Christina TimmFaculty of Behavioral and Empirical Cultural Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3675-6163
Steffen HartmannFaculty of Behavioral and Empirical Cultural Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7597-027X
Sven BarnowFaculty of Behavioral and Empirical Cultural Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5359-9384
Lisa RittmeyerFaculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Gießen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5911-4404
David RosenbaumClinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1549-0762
Christopher LalkFaculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Gießen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1793-3507

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent and severely distressing condition that can lead to functional impairments and is considered one of the most difficult anxiety disorders to treat. Following new technological developments, a highly structured cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach that has already shown success in face-to-face psychotherapy can be implemented: internet-delivered CBT (iCBT). There is now evidence for the efficacy of both guided and unguided iCBT interventions for GAD regarding symptom reduction.

objectiveTo establish the usefulness of such interventions, we plan to evaluate the efficacy of a web-based self-help program (Selfapy) for GAD in a relatively large sample. We aim to assess effects beyond symptom reduction, including effects on well-being, functioning, and mental health literacy, as well as the effect on health care burden, while testing the intervention in conditions comparable to routine care.

methodsPatients (n=156) who have been diagnosed with GAD, are aged between 18 and 65 years, have internet access, and have sufficient German language skills will be recruited for this study. The intervention group (n=78) will receive access to the 12-week self-help web-based program Selfapy. The waitlist control group (n=78) will receive no intervention in the context of the study. However, both groups will be allowed to access further health care services (eg, psychotherapy, medication), reflecting current routine care in Germany. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (T1) and 6 weeks (T2) and 12 weeks (T3) after the start of the intervention. The primary outcome will be generalized anxiety symptoms and quality of life at T3. Additional outcomes include depression, work capacity, therapy-related expenses and burdens, health literacy, and negative effects.

resultsBy May 2023, all participants had finished the trial and the report was being prepared for publication.

conclusionsWeb-based interventions may be an important addition to the German health care system to reduce barriers to treatment access. Further, they may prove cost-effective for the treatment of GAD.

trial registrationDeutsches Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00023799; https://tinyurl.com/22bds38x. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/41440.

Indexed as

anxietyGADgeneralized anxiety disorderguidedinternet-basedinternet interventionmental disordermental healthmental illnessonline interventiononline self-helppsychotherapyrandomized controlled trialRCTself-helpweb-based

Identifiers

PMID37494105
PMCPMC10413245

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.