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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2001) 179: 456-459
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

PRELIMINARY REPORT

Reducing demands on clinicians by offering computer-aided self-help for phobia/panic

Feasibility study

MARK KENWRIGHT, RMN

NHS Stress Self-Help Clinic, London

SHEENA LINESS, RMN

Maudsley Hospital, London

ISAAC MARKS, FRCPsych

Imperial College, London

Correspondence: Mark Kenwright, NHS Stress Self-Help Clinic, 303 North End Road, London W114 9NS. E-mail: m.kenwright{at}hotmail.com

Declaration of interest One of the authors (I.M.) shares intellectual property rights in the computer-guided system.

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 sessions 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 out-patients with phobia/panic who received the same treatment guided by a clinician.

Results At pre-treatment, computer-guided cases were slightly less severe than clinician-guided patients. In a post-treatment intent-to-treat analysis, both groups improved comparably but computer-guided patients spent 86% less 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 effective for self-referrals and saved much clinician time. A controlled study is now needed.




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