M. Kenwright et al., Reducing demands on clinicians by offering computer-aided self-help for phobia/panic - Feasibility study, BR J PSYCHI, 179, 2001, pp. 456-459
Background Many patients with phobia/panic find it hard to access effective
treatment.
Aims To test the feasibility of computer-guided exposure therapy for phobia
/panic.
Method Self-referrals were screened for 20 min and, if suitable, had six se
ssions of computer-guided self-help (from a system called FearFighter). Pre
- and post-treatment ratings of 54 patients were compared with those of 31
similar outpatients with phobia/panic who received the same treatment guide
d by a clinician.
Results At pre-treatment, computer-guided cases were slightly less severe t
han clinician-guided patients. In a posttreatment intent-to-treat analysis,
both groups improved comparably but computer-guided patients spent 86% les
s time with a clinician than did purely clinician-guided patients, who had
no access to the computer system.
Conclusions Computer-guided self-exposure therapy appeared feasible and eff
ective for self-referrals and saved much clinician time. A controlled study
is now needed.
Declaration of interest One of the authors (I.M) shares intellectual proper
ty rights in the computer-guided system.