BACKGROUND: Self-help interventions for psychiatric disorders represent an increasingly popular alternative to therapist-administered psychological therapies, offering the potential of increased access to cost-effective treatment. AIMS: To determine the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of self-help interventions for anxiety disorders. METHOD: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of self-help interventions for anxiety disorders were identified by searching nine online databases. Studies were grouped according to disorder and meta-analyses were conducted where sufficient data were available. Overall meta-analyses of self-help v. waiting list and therapist-administered treatment were also undertaken. Methodological quality was assessed independently by two researchers according to criteria set out by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: Thirty-one RCTs met inclusion criteria for the review. Results of the overall meta-analysis comparing self-help with waiting list gave a significant effect size of 0.84 in favour of self-help. Comparison of self-help with therapist-administered treatments revealed a significant difference in favour of the latter with an effect size of 0.34. The addition of guidance and the presentation of multimedia or web-based self-help materials improved treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Self-help interventions appear to be an effective way of treating individuals diagnosed with social phobia and panic disorder. Further research is required to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and acceptability of these interventions.
BACKGROUND: Self-help interventions for psychiatric disorders represent an increasingly popular alternative to therapist-administered psychological therapies, offering the potential of increased access to cost-effective treatment. AIMS: To determine the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of self-help interventions for anxiety disorders. METHOD: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of self-help interventions for anxiety disorders were identified by searching nine online databases. Studies were grouped according to disorder and meta-analyses were conducted where sufficient data were available. Overall meta-analyses of self-help v. waiting list and therapist-administered treatment were also undertaken. Methodological quality was assessed independently by two researchers according to criteria set out by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: Thirty-one RCTs met inclusion criteria for the review. Results of the overall meta-analysis comparing self-help with waiting list gave a significant effect size of 0.84 in favour of self-help. Comparison of self-help with therapist-administered treatments revealed a significant difference in favour of the latter with an effect size of 0.34. The addition of guidance and the presentation of multimedia or web-based self-help materials improved treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Self-help interventions appear to be an effective way of treating individuals diagnosed with social phobia and panic disorder. Further research is required to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and acceptability of these interventions.
Authors: Brent A Moore; Frank D Buono; Daniel P Lloyd; Destiny M B Printz; David A Fiellin; Declan T Barry Journal: J Subst Abuse Treat Date: 2018-11-24
Authors: Brent A Moore; Frank D Buono; Destiny M B Printz; Daniel P Lloyd; David A Fiellin; Christopher J Cutter; Richard S Schottenfeld; Declan T Barry Journal: Exp Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2017-12 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Carolyn I Rodriguez; Amanda Levinson; Sapana R Patel; Kim Rottier; Jordana Zwerling; Susan Essock; Lee Shuer; Randy O Frost; Helen Blair Simpson Journal: J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord Date: 2016-07-16 Impact factor: 1.677
Authors: Martin A Katzman; Pierre Bleau; Pierre Blier; Pratap Chokka; Kevin Kjernisted; Michael Van Ameringen; Martin M Antony; Stéphane Bouchard; Alain Brunet; Martine Flament; Sophie Grigoriadis; Sandra Mendlowitz; Kieron O'Connor; Kiran Rabheru; Peggy M A Richter; Melisa Robichaud; John R Walker Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2014-07-02 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Benjamin J R Stewart; Deborah Turnbull; Antonina A Mikocka-Walus; Hugh A J Harley; Jane M Andrews Journal: J Clin Psychol Med Settings Date: 2013-12
Authors: Nitya Kanuri; Prerna Arora; Sai Talluru; Bona Colaco; Rohan Dutta; Abhimanyu Rawat; Barr C Taylor; M Manjula; Michelle G Newman Journal: Int J Psychol Date: 2019-12-22
Authors: Natalie Simon; Lindsay Robertson; Catrin Lewis; Neil P Roberts; Andrew Bethell; Sarah Dawson; Jonathan I Bisson Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-05-20