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Internet therapy for anxiety disorders : a critical review of its effectiveness

Prussner, J. (2009) Internet therapy for anxiety disorders : a critical review of its effectiveness.

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Abstract:Anxiety disorders are worldwide the most prevalent of the psychiatric disorders as about every sixth person will acquire one at some point in life. They bring with them a high degree of suffering for the patient and huge economic costs to society. In order to make therapy available and attractive to a much greater number of patients and in order to reduce costs ADAPT is developing an internet therapy for anxiety disorders. Down to the present day little is known about its effectiveness, therefore this paper will investigate whether internet therapy is a viable alternative or supplement to usual face-to-face therapy. A search was conducted for meta-analyses and other reviews on the topic and 13 studies testing internet therapy for anxiety disorders and other medical problems were evaluated. Results show that internet therapy is as effective as usual face-to-face therapy in reducing anxiety symptomatology, as long as therapist contact is available to patients. The target group was found to consist mainly of well-educated, working women. Internet interventions can thus be a cost-effective alternative or supplement to usual treatment; although a great deal of further research has yet to be conducted so as to be able to rule out possible disadvantages and to be able to apply internet therapies on other health problems as well.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/59462
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