Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) for adolescents with anxiety disorders delivered with different types of therapist support: a randomized feasibility trial.

Abstract

Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) programs are offered with varying types of therapist support. But little is known about the impact of therapist support in these programs. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of delivering ICBT for adolescents with anxiety disorders with different types of written therapist support in a routine care setting. This was done in preparation of a large-scale randomized controlled trial of clinical effectiveness. 15 adolescents aged 12-17 years, and their parents participated in the study. They were randomized 1:1 to either 1) ICBT with planned support, or 2) ICBT with support on demand. Feasibility measures included feasibility and acceptability of treatment and study procedures, and acceptability of the intervention and conditions. Clinical outcome measures included anxiety diagnosis and symptom severity. The results indicate that it may be feasible to deliver the ICBT intervention with different degrees of support. However, the results also indicate that some adaptations to procedures were needed, as the difference in support received between conditions was not as pronounced as expected. The main adaptation derived from this study was altering the planned support condition to provide support at fixed weekly intervals instead of upon session completion.ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06076954.