This Way Up - Mixed Depression and Anxiety Course

Description:

The course is designed to treat the symptoms of both anxiety and depression and is based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The course lasts 8 weeks and comprises of six online lessons, homework activities, participation in an online discussion forum and regular email/phone contact with either your own clinician or a This Way Up clinician. Each lesson takes about 20 minutes, plus an additional 3-4 hours per week to complete suggested homework activities.  Part of each lesson is presented as an illustrated story about a woman who struggles with generalised anxiety and depression and a man who experiences panic attacks and social anxiety. Practical skills are taught for tackling these difficulties and improving emotional wellbeing. As progress is made through the lessons, automatic emails are sent as reminders to complete materials and to provide information about new resources. 

Service URL:
Agency Responsible:
This Way Up, Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.

Details

Format:
Website.
Intervention Type:
Psychological – CBT.
Course Length:
Long (more than 5 modules). 6 lessons over 8 weeks
Support Option:
Clinical support. By your own clinician, self-directed course also available

Target Audience

Primary Category:
Social anxiety. This course is designed to help with anxiety (including social anxiety, panic and GAD) and depression
Target Audience:
Adult.
Language:
English.

Access

Fee:
Fee-based. The course costs $59
Access:
Closed: Fee required. You need to be referred by your clinician to register for the supervised course. A self-directed version is also available
Contact Details:

Through an online form at:
https://thiswayup.org.au/about/contact-us/

Research evidence

Research Trials:
3
Research RCTs:
1
Outcome Summary:

One randomised control trial has been completed to test the efficacy of an early version of the Depression and Anxiety Course.  In this study (1) participants with a principle diagnosis of major depression, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and or social phobia were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a waitlist control group.  The treatment group reported significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to the control group on various measures - but not specifically on the measure of social phobia.  Moreover, while a subsequent open trial (2) in which participants from the original waitlist control completed a shortened version of the program produced similarly positive results in relation to its treatment of anxiety disorders in general – the number of participants suffering from social phobia at the outset was too few to draw firm conclusions in relation to this specific disorder. 

An open trial (3) was subsequently carried out on the most recent version of the Mixed Depression and Anxiety Course with n=707 participants completing the course, supervised by their primary care clinician. In this trial, significant reduction in symptoms was observed post-intervention for depression and anxiety, including social anxiety with an effect size d=0.69. This suggests that in it's current form the Depression and Anxiety course can be effective in the treatment of social anxiety in primary care. 


Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

There is evidence that the site might work. More conclusive studies are needed.
Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

There is evidence that the site might work. More conclusive studies are needed.

Read more about Beacon's Smiley Rating System.

Research paper citations

Evidence evaluation studies:

(1) Titov, N., Dear, B.F., Schwencke. G., Andrews, G, Johnston, L., Craske, M.G., McEvoy, P. (2011)  Transdiagnostic internet treatment for anxiety and depression:  A randomised controlled trial.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 49, 441-452.

 

(2) Dear, B.F., Titov, N., Schwencke. G., Andrews, G, Johnston, L., Craske, M.G., McEvoy, P. (2011)  An open trial of a brief transdianostic internet treatment for anxiety and depression.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 49, 830-837.

 

(3) Newby, J. M., Mewton, L., Williams, A. D., & Andrews, G. (2014). Effectiveness of transdiagnostic internet cognitive behavioural treatment for mixed anxiety and depression in primary care. Journal of Affective Disorders, 165, 45-52.

 

Additional references:

Hilvert-Bruce, Z., Rossouw, P.J., Wong, N., Sunderland, M., Andrews, G. (2012)  Adherence as a determinant of effectiveness of internet cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depressive disorders.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 50, 463-468.


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Last Updated: July 5th 2018