Evaluating 'FearLess': An online self-help program for anxiety

Abstract

Anxiety is a common mental health condition that can be severely debilitating. Psychological treatment with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can avert the onset of anxiety disorders and the high cost of impairment. However, many people do not, or cannot, receive face to face psychological treatment. Barriers can include geographic location, lack of money, social stigma, and shortage of mental health professionals. To help overcome such barriers, web-based interventions that deliver mental health information and skill training online have been developed in recent years. However, most interventions to date have been based on Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy with less known about alternate therapy models. The present research first conducted a systematic review on the use of online ACT interventions for anxiety treatment. Significant reductions on anxiety measures were reported across most studies. However, there were no online ACT programs developed for the Australian population. An open trial pilot study on the efficacy and usability of a new Australian developed online ACT program for anxiety symptoms called ‘FearLess’ was then conducted. Forty young Australian adults (aged 18-25) completed the program with no therapist guidance over two weeks. Measures of system usability were taken alongside self-rated levels of depression, anxiety, stress and psychological flexibility at pre-test, post-test and 2-week follow-up. System usability was rated above average and significant improvements were found on all mental health measures from pre-test to follow-up, except for stress. These results warrant further scrutiny in a clinical randomised controlled trial on the intervention.