Effectiveness of an internet-delivered intervention for generalized anxiety disorder in routine care: A randomised controlled trial in a student population

Abstract Background Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the main and preferred treatments for generalized anxiety disorder. Numerous barriers can hinder an individual from seeking or receiving appropriate treatment; internet-delivered CBT interventions offer a relatively new means of increasing access to treatment. Methods A service-based effectiveness randomised waiting list control trial examined the impact of an internet-delivered CBT intervention, Calming Anxiety , amongst Irish university students ( N  = 137). Primary outcome was self-reported GAD and secondary outcomes included depression and work and social functioning. Results Analyses returned inconclusive results. Both treatment and waiting list conditions displayed significant decreases in anxiety symptoms post-treatment, but we did not observe a significant between-group effect ( p  = 0.076). Significant within-group differences from pre to post time points were observed for depression (BDI-II) and work and social functioning (WASA), and between group differences were also significant for depression ( d  = 0.46) and functioning ( d  = 0.36). Both groups demonstrated cases of remission and recovery from anxiety, however differences in the number of cases reaching clinically meaningful change between conditions were non-significant. Conclusions Several explanations regarding the results are presented, examining issues related to active waiting lists, study limitations and treatment expectancies. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN16303842.