What Our Research Says

We are gradually gathering evidence that the courses in CRUfADclinic are beneficial.

We have treated over 1,000 patients in our Internet-based education and treatment research program virtualclinic.org.au, using more complex versions of the depression, panic, social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder courses contained in CRUfADclinic.org, and found that they are of benefit to most of the people who complete the course.

We present benchmark data for the depression and GAD courses. As of June 8th 2010, 317 people had begun the depression course at least 90 days earlier, and only 99 had completed: a completion rate of 31.2%. In GAD the pattern was similar with 327 people registered and 94 finishing the program: a completion rate of 28.7%. These completion rates are too low. It is difficult for patients to benefit from a course if they do not complete it. In January we began to provide automatic reminders to people if they did not log in within 10 days of completing a lesson. We do not yet know if this has helped.

The mean distress score for the 99 who completed the depression course dropped from 29.8 to 19.5 between lessons 1 and 6. This indicates a large average benefit (effect size = 1.27). The figures for GAD were 26.3 to 18.0 and again the effect size indicates a large average benefit (effect size = 1.17).

Papers

Below are the research papers that have been published.

Internet treatment for social phobia reduces comorbidity. Titov N, Gibson M, Andrews G, McEvoy P. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2009 Aug;43(8):754-9. Click to read the abstract.

Clinician-assisted internet treatment is effective for generalized anxiety disorder: randomized controlled trial. Titov N, Andrews G, Robinson E, Schwencke G, Johnston L, Solley K, Choi I. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2009, 43:10, 905-912. Click to read the abstract.

An RCT comparing effect of two types of support on severity of symptoms for people completing Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for social phobia. Titov N, Andrews G, Schwencke G, Solley K, Johnston L, Robinson E. (2009). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43:10, 920-926. Click to read the abstract.

Randomized controlled trial of web-based treatment of social phobia without clinician guidance. Titov N, Andrews G, Choi I, Schwencke G, Johnston L, (2009). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43:10, 913-919. Click to read the abstract.

Shyness 5: The clinical effectiveness of Internet-based clinician-assisted treatment of social phobia. Aydos L R, Titov N, et al. Australasian Psychiatry. Click to read the abstract.

Clinician-assisted Internet-based treatment is effective for depression: A randomized controlled trial. Perini, S. J., N. Titov, et al. (2009). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 43(6): 571-578. Click to read the abstract.

The Shyness Program: Longer Term Benefits, Cost-Effectiveness, and Acceptability. Titov, N., G. Andrews, et al. (2009). Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 43(1): 36-44. Click to read the abstract.

Shyness 2: Treating social phobia online: replication and extension. Titov N, Andrews G, Schwencke G. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008 42(7):595-605. Click to read the abstract.

The Climate Panic program: an open trial of Internet-based treatment for panic disorder. Wims E, Titov N, Andrews G. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology 2008; 4(2). Click to read the abstract.

Shyness 1: Distance treatment for social over the Internet. A randomized controlled trial. Titov N, Andrews G, Schwencke G, Drobny J, Einstein D. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 42(7):585-594. Click to read the abstract.

Shyness 3: An RCT of guided vs unguided internet based CBT for social phobia. Titov N, Andrews G, Choi I, Schwencke G, Mahoney A. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 42(12):1030-1040. Click to read the abstract.

The Climate Sadness program: an open trial of Internet-based treatment for depression. Perini SJ, Titov N, Andrews G. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology 2008; 4(2). Click to read the abstract.