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Internet-based treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (the Worry program): A randomized controlled study exploring the role of a clinician.

A randomized controlled trial comparing clinician-assisted Internet based treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) vs. self-guided Internet-based treatment for GAD vs. a waitlist control condition on severity of symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ANZCTR
Registry ID
ACTRN12609000563268
Acronym
GAD RCT2
Enrollment
150
Registered
2009-07-09
Start date
2009-09-07
Completion date
2009-12-01
Last updated
2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Our previous research indicates that the Worry Program, an Internet-based treatment program for people with GAD, is effective at helping people to learn to manage their symptoms of GAD. The study described here aims to find out whether therapist support is required for people to successfully complete the Worry Program. We expect that people completing the Worry Program without therapist support will still benefit, but not as much as those receiving the usual levels of therapist support.

Interventions

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) Treatment with clinician-assisted Internet based treatment for GAD, or; 2) Treatment with self-guided Internet based treatment for GAD, or; 3) Waitlist control. All participants will meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for GAD. All group 1 and group 2 participants will complete 6 lessons of Internet based treatment about the management of symptoms of GAD. One lesson will be comp

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) Treatment with clinician-assisted Internet based treatment for GAD, or; 2) Treatment with self-guided Internet based treatment for GAD, or; 3) Waitlist control. All participants will meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for GAD. All group 1 and group 2 participants will complete 6 lessons of Internet based treatment about the management of symptoms of GAD. One lesson will be completed every 7 to 14 days. Each lesson will take about 15 minutes to complete. Group 1 participants will have access to summaries of each lesson, will contribute to an online forum moderated by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, and will receive weekly reminder emails. Group 2 participants will have access to summaries of each lesson, and will receive weekly reminder emails. The duration of the program is up to 10 weeks, but participants will be contacted 3 months post program and asked to complete follow-up questionnaires. Study questionnaires will be administered at application, pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3-month post-treatment. These will take about 20 minutes to complete. The treatment materials are based on cognitive behavioural techniques.

Sponsors

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent's Hospital
Lead SponsorUniversity

Study design

Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association-4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for GAD - Internet access + printer access. - Australian citizen- Males and females

Exclusion criteria

Current substance abuse/dependence- Psychotic disorder- Current or planned psychological treatment during study duration- Change in medications during last 1 month or intended change during study duration

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ANZCTR · Data processed: Mar 31, 2026