New Internet-Based Therapy Provides Hope for Sufferers of Panic and Anxiety Disorders

For sufferers of panic and anxiety disorders comes news from the world of psychiatry that a new field of therapy could provide relief from an unlikely source – the internet. A new study by Swedish researchers from the Karolinska Institute found that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) over the internet can be equally effective in treating recurring, severe panic attacks as traditional CBT, which is usually conducted in a group setting. The study's authors are scientists from the Center for Psychiatry Research, and in a doctoral thesis argue that online CBT is more cost-effective than traditional treatments and is also effective in treating mild to moderate cases of depression.

Panic disorder can affect 4% of all people at some point in his or her lifetime, and depression is estimated to affect almost 15% of the population. Panic and anxiety go hand in hand, with symptoms including panic attacks, shaking, heart palpitations, as well as paranoia.  Panic and anxiety disorders have been studies extensively, and traditional CBT has long been known to effectively treat panic and anxiety disorders and depression.   

But a lack of resources (whether facilities or qualified doctors) has prevented wide disparities in availability of this form of treatment in many countries.  With Internet-based CBT, the patient suffering from a certain panic or anxiety disorder has an online, personalized self-help program guided by a therapist via email. The new study shows that the most effective treatment is that which is administered as early as possible, and those with more severe cases of panic or anxiety disorders are less likely to be helped. 

The proponents of the study hope that Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy will begin to be introduced into standardized psychiatric practices, with the intention of making this treatment available to as many patients with depression and anxiety disorders as possible.