Internet-based Exposure Therapy for Excessive Worry

Trial Objectives: Primary objective is to investigate whether an Internet-based exposure therapy can effectively reduce the degree of excessive worry. The secondary objective is to a) investigate whether imagery based exposure is more effective than verbal exposure. b) investigate the cost-effectiveness of this treatment and c) to study if any variables could moderate/mediate the treatment outcome, such as metacognitions, degree of rumination or degree of depression.

Trial Design: Randomized controlled trial with waitlist control, who also will recieve treatment after the first group has finished.

Duration: Ten weeks

Primary Endpoint: Change in worry symptoms from baseline to Week 10. Long term follow-up is also investigated (baseline to 4-months after treatment completion and baseline to 12-months after treatment completion).

Efficacy Parameters: Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)

Safety Parameters: Adverse Events is assessed weekly via the internet.

Description of Trial Subjects: Patients > 18 years old with a PSWQ score more than 56 points

Number of Subjects: 140

Inclusion criteria

• Outpatients
• ≥ 18 years
• Situated in Sweden
• Informed consent
• Penn State Worry Questionnaire score more than 56 points

Exclusion criteria

• Substance dependence during the last six months
• Post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or psychosis
• Symptoms better explained by axis 2 diagnosis (e.g. autism or borderline personality disorder)
• MADRS-S score above 25 points
• Psychotropic medication changes within two months prior to treatment that could affect target symptoms.
• Received exposure based Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for pathological worry the last 2 years