A Smart Solution? Efficacy of a Self-Management Smartphone App for Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia

Background

Cognitive behavioral therapy has proven to be effective in the treatment of panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (PD/A). However, psychotherapy is often not available in a timely manner. Hence, there is a need for alternative and easily accessible interventions. The current study, thus, aimed to evaluate a smartphone-based self-management-tool for panic disorder and/or agoraphobia.

Method

107 participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (app “Mindable”) or a waitlist control group. Primary outcome was panic and agoraphobic symptom severity, further outcomes included perceived quality of life, anxiety control beliefs, and functional impairment. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the data in intent-to-treat- and completer-data sets.

Results

After the eight-week observation period, participants in the intervention group reported significantly stronger reductions in panic and agoraphobic symptoms (R² = 0.20) and a higher increase in anxiety-related control beliefs (R² = 0.125) than participants in the control condition. Despite this symptom reduction, only 4.3% of participants in the app group and none in the control group were considered as remitted. Quality of life and functional impairment improved in all participants over time, but no significant group x time interactions were found.

Discussion

A smartphone-based self-management tool is an easily accessible intervention to reduce panic and agoraphobic symptoms and enhance anxiety control in people with PD/A. As no symptom remission could be achieved, this approach may be suitable as part of a stepped care approach for anxiety disorders.

Trial Registration

Registration number: DRKS00029090, registered on 10.06.2022.