Evaluation of an online-based self-help program for patients with generalized anxiety disorder - A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an online self-help intervention for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Our primary outcomes were generalized anxiety symptoms, measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006), and wellbeing based on the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index - 5 (WHO-5; Topp et al., 2015).

Methods: A total of 156 German-speaking patients aged 18 to 65 with a diagnosis of GAD and internet access were included in this randomized controlled trial. The intervention group ( = 78) received access to a 12-week online self-help program, while the waitlist control group ( = 78) received access after the 12-week waiting period.

Results: The intervention group showed a significant improvement in generalized anxiety symptoms compared to the control group (( = 123.73) = 4.52,  < .001) with a large effect size ( = 0.88, 95 %-CI: 0.50; 1.26). Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in wellbeing compared to the control group (( = 87,86) = 3.48,  < .001), with a moderate effect size ( = 0.62, 95 % CI: 0.27; 0.98). However, no significant effects were observed for secondary outcomes of functional impairments, work productivity, mental health literacy, and healthcare demands. For exploratory outcomes, improvement was found for anxiety and worry symptoms.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that an online-based self-help intervention effectively reduces GAD symptoms and improves overall wellbeing. Future research should explore the long-term effects of this intervention and investigate potential mechanisms underlying its efficacy.

Public Health Implications: Online-based self-help programs provide a promising treatment option for individuals with GAD who face barriers to traditional face-to-face therapy.