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A Feasibility Open Trial of a Brief Internet-Delivered Written Exposure Therapy for Worry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 January 2019

Margaux Roch-Gagné  and
France Talbot
Margaux Roch-Gagné
Affiliation:
École de psychologie, Université de Moncton, Campus de Moncton, Pavillon Léopold-Taillon, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB, Canada, E1A 3E9
France Talbot*
Affiliation:
École de psychologie, Université de Moncton, Campus de Moncton, Pavillon Léopold-Taillon, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB, Canada, E1A 3E9
*
Correspondence to: France Talbot, E-mail: france.talbot@umoncton.ca
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Abstract

Background: Cognitive exposure, a treatment of choice for hypothetical fears, involves listening repeatedly to a recorded scenario of one's worst hypothetical fear. A major limitation, however, is that the script cannot be easily modified. Aims: The current study assessed the feasibility of a brief guided internet-based written exposure therapy (iWET) for hypothetical fears, Mind at Peace. Method: Fifty-three adults presenting clinical levels of anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 8) and worry (PSWQ ≥ 45) were recruited. A single group pre-test/post-test design including a 3-month follow-up was used. Mind at Peace is a 6-week iWET consisting of psychoeducation and five 30-minute weekly writing exposure sessions. Feasibility outcome measures included treatment adherence, attrition, treatment acceptability and preliminary efficacy. Primary outcome measures were the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Results: Attrition was higher (57%) and adherence lower (28%) than expected. Intent-to-treat repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant and large improvements on the GAD-7 (ƞp2 = 0.36) and the PSWQ (ƞp2 = 0.23) with similar findings among study completers. Remission rates were higher on the GAD-7 than on the PSWQ, suggesting that Mind at Peace may primarily target general symptoms of generalized anxiety. Rates of acceptability varied, but nearly all study completers reported that they would recommend this treatment to a friend. Conclusions: This study provided valuable information on Mind at Peace. Methodological changes are proposed to improve its feasibility. A more definitive trial incorporating suggested methodological improvements is recommended.

Keywords

anxietycognitive behaviour therapycomputer-aided psychotherapyGADnarrativeworry
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 47 , Issue 4 , July 2019 , pp. 462 - 477
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2019 

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