This Way Up - Panic Disorder Course

Description:

The This Way Up Panic Course is an online cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) program for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. It consists of six online lessons, homework activities and regular email/phone contact with your own clinician (if using the supervised option). It is suggested that the course be completed within a 3 month period, and includes suggested homework activities. Principles and techniques of CBT utilised in the course include psychoeducation, graded exposure, cognitive restructuring, physiological de-arousal, and relapse prevention. Part of the content of each lesson is presented in the form of an illustrated story about a woman with panic and agoraphobia who, with the help of a therapist, learns how to gain mastery over her symptoms.

Service URL:

https://thiswayup.org.au/clinic/courses/courses-we-offer/panic-and-agoraphobia/

Agency Responsible:

This Way Up, Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.

Details

Format:

Website.

Intervention Type:

Psychological – CBT.

Course Length:

Long (more than 5 modules). Comprising 5 online lessons over a period of 8 weeks

Support Option:

Clinical support. From your own clinician, self-directed course also available

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Panic disorder.

Target Audience:

Adult.

Language:

English.

Access

Fee:

Fee-based. The course costs $59

Access:

Closed: Fee required. You need to be referred by your clinician to register for the supervised course. A self-directed version is also available

Contact Details:

through website at: https://thiswayup.org.au/contact-us/

Research evidence

Research Trials:

5

Research RCTs:

3

Outcome Summary:

The efficacy of the Panic Course has been tested in two open trials with no control group and three randomised controlled trials (RCT). In the pilot trial, the Panic Course resulted in significant improvements on measures of symptoms of panic disorder and agoraphobia, and a significant reduction in frequency of episodes of panic attacks. Effect sizes ranged from d = 0.66 (moderate) to d = 1.67 (large) across the measures. In the first RCT, which compared the Panic Course (treatment) to a waitlist control, the treatment group reported significantly reduced symptoms of panic compared to the control group. Significant reductions were also reported on measures of disability and depression. The mean between-group effect size on the Panic Disorder Severity Scale was d = 0.59, representing a moderate treatment effect of the program. In a more recent RCT, the Panic Course did not result in significant improvements  on a measure of panic disorder (Panic Disorder Severity Scale) - but did lead to improvements on a more general measure of adjustment (Work and Social Adjustment Scale), with a large effect size.

In the most recent RCT with n=63 the Panic course was tested against a waitlist control group. The intervention group saw significant reductions in panic symptoms with g=0.97. Significant reductions in symptoms of depression, distress and disability compared to controls were also observed. 

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Research paper citations

Evidence evaluation studies:

Allen, A. R., Newby, J. M., Mackenzie, A., Smith, J., Boulton, M., Loughnan, S. A., & Andrews, G. (2016). Internet cognitive–behavioural treatment for panic disorder: randomised controlled trial and evidence of effectiveness in primary care. British Journal of Psychiatry Open, 2(2), 154-162.

Bell, C.J., Colhoun, H.C., Carter, F.A., Frampton, C.M. (2012)  Effectiveness of computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety disorders in secondary care.  The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46(7): 630-640.

Wims, E., Titov, N., Andrews, G., & Choi, I. (2010). Clinician-assisted Internet-based treatment is effective for panic: A randomized controlled trial. Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 44(7), 599-607.

Wims, E., Titov, N., & Andrews, G. (2008). The Climate Panic program: an open trial of Internet-based treatment for panic disorder. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology, 4(2). 

Additional references:

Hilvert-Bruce, Z., Rossouw, P.J., Wong, N., Sunderland, M., Andrews, G. (2012)  Adherence as a determinant of effectiveness of internet cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depressive disorders.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 50, 463-468.