<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>There are several treatments available... more <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>There are several treatments available for anxiety, which can make treatment decisions difficult. Resources are often produced with limited knowledge of what is of interest to consumers. This is a problem because there is a limited understanding of what people want to know when considering help for anxiety.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> <p>This study examined the information needs and preferences concerning treatment options for anxiety. The aims were: (a) what information do people consider to be important when they are considering treatment options for anxiety; (b) what information have people received on psychological and medication treatment in the past; (c) how did they receive this information in the past; and (d) are there any differences in information needs between specific samples and demographic groups.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> <p>Using a web-based survey, we recruited participants from a peer-support association website (n = 288) and from clinic samples (psychology n = 113, psychiatry n = 64).</p> </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>Overall, participants in all samples wanted information on a broad range of topics pertaining to anxiety treatments. However, they reported not receiving the amount of information they desired. Participants in the clinic samples rated the importance of information topics higher than did the self-help sample. When considering anxiety treatment information received in the past, the highest proportion of respondents indicated receiving information from informational websites, family doctors, and mental health practitioners. In terms of what respondents want to learn about, high ratings of importance were given to topics concerning treatment effectiveness, how it works, advantages/disadvantages, what happens when it stops, and common side effects.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>It is challenging for individuals to obtain anxiety-related information on the range of topics they desire through currently available information sources. It is also difficult to provide comprehensive information in a typical clinical visit. Providing evidence-based information online and in brochure format would help consumers make informed choices and would support advice provided by health professionals.</p> </sec>
European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare, Jun 1, 2018
Rationale, aims and objectives: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective in treating anxi... more Rationale, aims and objectives: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective in treating anxiety disorders. In publically funded systems, CBT is not easily accessible due to long wait times. In order to provide quicker access, a large group CBT intervention was implemented in a tertiary care clinic. This study describes the design, feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention as part of stepped care for anxiety disorders. Method: The intervention followed a 2-session curriculum, consisting of 90 minutes classes providing didactic instruction on key CBT topics and self-management strategies. Classes accommodated 30 patients and were led by staff psychiatrists formally trained in CBT. A retrospective analysis of patients referred to the clinic during the first year of class implementation was performed to determine class completion rate, patient satisfaction (using a usefulness Likert Scale and Session Rating Scale [SRS]) and symptom trajectory (using the GAD-7).Results: The implementation of large group CBT classes reduced waiting times from approximately one year to approximately 3 months. One hundred and thirty-one patients were screened by the clinic, 88 of whom (67%) completed the intervention. Sixty-eight percent of patients rated the classes as useful; however, SRS findings indicated that only 46% of patients were satisfied. GAD-7 scores decreased by 1.57 (95% CI 0.2 to 2.95; SMD=0.24).Conclusions: This analysis contributes preliminary evidence that large group CBT education classes may be an acceptable means to reduce waiting times for CBT for anxiety disorders. Further controlled research is required to elucidate the benefit and cost effectiveness of such classes.
This research examined the effectiveness of a recruitment package to increase production rates of... more This research examined the effectiveness of a recruitment package to increase production rates of three developmentally handicapped adults in a sheltered workshop. Abaseline phase measured production rates of a paper-folding task under &quot;typical&quot; supervisory conditions. The recruitment package. introduced in a multiple-baseline design across subjects, involved goal setting by the experimenter, and self-monitoring, recruitment of praise. and self-delivery of a &quot;happy face&quot; by the worker. The recruitment package increased the production rates for two subjects, but decreased production rates for the third subject. Social validity data indicated that all subjects preferred the recruitment package, and staff continued to employ the recruitment package for two subjects when the formal research was terminated.
The goal of this direct-interview family study was to replicate and extend an earlier finding of ... more The goal of this direct-interview family study was to replicate and extend an earlier finding of a familial liability for social phobia. The authors hypothesized that there would be higher rates of the generalized type of social phobia--but not the nongeneralized (or &quot;discrete&quot;) type--among relatives of probands with generalized social phobia. They also hypothesized that rates of avoidant personality disorder, a frequent comorbid condition, would be higher in relatives of probands with generalized social phobia. The authors examined rates of three social phobia subtypes defined a priori--discrete, nongeneralized, and generalized--as well as rates of avoidant personality disorder by direct interview of 106 first-degree relatives of 23 patients with generalized social phobia and 74 first-degree relatives of 24 comparison subjects without social phobia. Relative risks for generalized social phobia and avoidant personality disorder were markedly higher (approximately 10-fold) among first-degree relatives of probands with generalized social phobia than among first-degree relatives of comparison probands. In contrast, relative risks for discrete social phobia and nongeneralized social phobia were not significantly different between the two groups of first-degree relatives. These results confirm earlier findings of a higher rate of social phobia among relatives of probands with generalized social phobia and extend these findings by specifically indicating that it is only the generalized type (and its probable axis II counterpart, avoidant personality disorder) that occurs more often among the families of probands with generalized social phobia. Implications for subsequent genetic studies are discussed.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A wealth of online anxiety information exists but much of it is not evide... more OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A wealth of online anxiety information exists but much of it is not evidence-based or well-balanced. This study evaluated anxiety websites (N = 20) on readability, quality, usability, visual design, and content. RESULTS Overall, websites were of reasonable quality but only half were considered understandable according to the PEMAT usability scale (70% cutoff value). The average reading level across websites was 11.2 (SMOG), which is higher than NIH recommended grade 6-7 level. Websites had variable design features and a trending association suggested websites with better design come up earlier in search results. The number of topics covered varied across websites and most did not adequately cover all topics of interest. Most websites included information about psychological and self-help treatments, how treatment works, and what treatment entails. The Top 5 websites were: (1) Anxiety BC, (2) ADAA, (3) Mind, (4) Beyond Blue, and (5) Web MD. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to evaluate existing anxiety information websites based on the dimensions described above and their relationship to Google search results. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS This study highlights the importance of considering several dimensions in developing mental health resources and provides direction for strategies to improve existing websites and/or develop new resources.
Objective: Perinatal anxiety (PA) impacts 15 to 24.5% of women though treatment-seeking rates are... more Objective: Perinatal anxiety (PA) impacts 15 to 24.5% of women though treatment-seeking rates are low, despite various available and effective treatment options. The present study aimed to understand pregnant, postpartum, and non-perinatal women’s attitudes toward treatment-seeking and information needs regarding PA. Methods: Non-perinatal, pregnant, and postpartum women ages 18-40 in Central Canada completed an online survey (N = 200). Crosstabulation analyses illustrated differences in treatment preferences across groups. A one-way between-subjects ANOVA informed differences in attitudes toward psychological treatment-seeking across groups.Results: Across groups, women had positive attitudes toward psychological treatment seeking. Women endorsed a preference for PA support from peers and psychoeducation from their family doctor. Most women desired brief 1-page fact sheets on psychological and pharmacological treatment options during early pregnancy or pregnancy planning. Conclusio...
Background Despite elevated prevalence rates of prenatal (antenatal) anxiety across studies (13–2... more Background Despite elevated prevalence rates of prenatal (antenatal) anxiety across studies (13–21%), and prenatal people’s use of the Internet to search for pregnancy-related information and support, research investigating prenatal people’s experiences with online mental health communication, such as blogs, is lacking. This study examined blog entries focused on anxiety in pregnancy to better understand prenatal people’s Internet discourse concerning their experiences with anxiety. Methods A Google search using the keywords “anxiety,” “pregnant,” and “blog” resulted in N = 18 blogs that met inclusion criteria (public blog written in English describing a personal experience with prenatal anxiety in 250 words or more). Blog content was analyzed using a thematic analytic approach based on grounded theory principles. Results Three main themes capturing prenatal people’s experiences with anxiety as written in public blog content were developed from qualitative analyses: 1) etiology (sub...
Background During the perinatal period (including pregnancy and up to 12 months after childbirth)... more Background During the perinatal period (including pregnancy and up to 12 months after childbirth), expectant and new mothers are at an elevated risk of developing depression. Inadequate knowledge about perinatal depression and treatment options may contribute to the low help-seeking rates exhibited by perinatal people. The Internet can be an accessible source of information about perinatal depression; however, the quality of this information remains to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of perinatal depression information websites. Methods After review, 37 websites were included in our sample. To assess overall website quality, we rated websites based on their reading level (Simple Measure of Gobbledegook; SMOG), information quality (DISCERN), usability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool; PEMAT), and visual design (Visual Aesthetics of Website Inventory; VisAWI). Results Websites often exceeded the National Institute of Health's recommend...
<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>There are several treatments available... more <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>There are several treatments available for anxiety, which can make treatment decisions difficult. Resources are often produced with limited knowledge of what is of interest to consumers. This is a problem because there is a limited understanding of what people want to know when considering help for anxiety.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> <p>This study examined the information needs and preferences concerning treatment options for anxiety. The aims were: (a) what information do people consider to be important when they are considering treatment options for anxiety; (b) what information have people received on psychological and medication treatment in the past; (c) how did they receive this information in the past; and (d) are there any differences in information needs between specific samples and demographic groups.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> <p>Using a web-based survey, we recruited participants from a peer-support association website (n = 288) and from clinic samples (psychology n = 113, psychiatry n = 64).</p> </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>Overall, participants in all samples wanted information on a broad range of topics pertaining to anxiety treatments. However, they reported not receiving the amount of information they desired. Participants in the clinic samples rated the importance of information topics higher than did the self-help sample. When considering anxiety treatment information received in the past, the highest proportion of respondents indicated receiving information from informational websites, family doctors, and mental health practitioners. In terms of what respondents want to learn about, high ratings of importance were given to topics concerning treatment effectiveness, how it works, advantages/disadvantages, what happens when it stops, and common side effects.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>It is challenging for individuals to obtain anxiety-related information on the range of topics they desire through currently available information sources. It is also difficult to provide comprehensive information in a typical clinical visit. Providing evidence-based information online and in brochure format would help consumers make informed choices and would support advice provided by health professionals.</p> </sec>
European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare, Jun 1, 2018
Rationale, aims and objectives: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective in treating anxi... more Rationale, aims and objectives: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective in treating anxiety disorders. In publically funded systems, CBT is not easily accessible due to long wait times. In order to provide quicker access, a large group CBT intervention was implemented in a tertiary care clinic. This study describes the design, feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention as part of stepped care for anxiety disorders. Method: The intervention followed a 2-session curriculum, consisting of 90 minutes classes providing didactic instruction on key CBT topics and self-management strategies. Classes accommodated 30 patients and were led by staff psychiatrists formally trained in CBT. A retrospective analysis of patients referred to the clinic during the first year of class implementation was performed to determine class completion rate, patient satisfaction (using a usefulness Likert Scale and Session Rating Scale [SRS]) and symptom trajectory (using the GAD-7).Results: The implementation of large group CBT classes reduced waiting times from approximately one year to approximately 3 months. One hundred and thirty-one patients were screened by the clinic, 88 of whom (67%) completed the intervention. Sixty-eight percent of patients rated the classes as useful; however, SRS findings indicated that only 46% of patients were satisfied. GAD-7 scores decreased by 1.57 (95% CI 0.2 to 2.95; SMD=0.24).Conclusions: This analysis contributes preliminary evidence that large group CBT education classes may be an acceptable means to reduce waiting times for CBT for anxiety disorders. Further controlled research is required to elucidate the benefit and cost effectiveness of such classes.
This research examined the effectiveness of a recruitment package to increase production rates of... more This research examined the effectiveness of a recruitment package to increase production rates of three developmentally handicapped adults in a sheltered workshop. Abaseline phase measured production rates of a paper-folding task under &quot;typical&quot; supervisory conditions. The recruitment package. introduced in a multiple-baseline design across subjects, involved goal setting by the experimenter, and self-monitoring, recruitment of praise. and self-delivery of a &quot;happy face&quot; by the worker. The recruitment package increased the production rates for two subjects, but decreased production rates for the third subject. Social validity data indicated that all subjects preferred the recruitment package, and staff continued to employ the recruitment package for two subjects when the formal research was terminated.
The goal of this direct-interview family study was to replicate and extend an earlier finding of ... more The goal of this direct-interview family study was to replicate and extend an earlier finding of a familial liability for social phobia. The authors hypothesized that there would be higher rates of the generalized type of social phobia--but not the nongeneralized (or &quot;discrete&quot;) type--among relatives of probands with generalized social phobia. They also hypothesized that rates of avoidant personality disorder, a frequent comorbid condition, would be higher in relatives of probands with generalized social phobia. The authors examined rates of three social phobia subtypes defined a priori--discrete, nongeneralized, and generalized--as well as rates of avoidant personality disorder by direct interview of 106 first-degree relatives of 23 patients with generalized social phobia and 74 first-degree relatives of 24 comparison subjects without social phobia. Relative risks for generalized social phobia and avoidant personality disorder were markedly higher (approximately 10-fold) among first-degree relatives of probands with generalized social phobia than among first-degree relatives of comparison probands. In contrast, relative risks for discrete social phobia and nongeneralized social phobia were not significantly different between the two groups of first-degree relatives. These results confirm earlier findings of a higher rate of social phobia among relatives of probands with generalized social phobia and extend these findings by specifically indicating that it is only the generalized type (and its probable axis II counterpart, avoidant personality disorder) that occurs more often among the families of probands with generalized social phobia. Implications for subsequent genetic studies are discussed.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A wealth of online anxiety information exists but much of it is not evide... more OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A wealth of online anxiety information exists but much of it is not evidence-based or well-balanced. This study evaluated anxiety websites (N = 20) on readability, quality, usability, visual design, and content. RESULTS Overall, websites were of reasonable quality but only half were considered understandable according to the PEMAT usability scale (70% cutoff value). The average reading level across websites was 11.2 (SMOG), which is higher than NIH recommended grade 6-7 level. Websites had variable design features and a trending association suggested websites with better design come up earlier in search results. The number of topics covered varied across websites and most did not adequately cover all topics of interest. Most websites included information about psychological and self-help treatments, how treatment works, and what treatment entails. The Top 5 websites were: (1) Anxiety BC, (2) ADAA, (3) Mind, (4) Beyond Blue, and (5) Web MD. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to evaluate existing anxiety information websites based on the dimensions described above and their relationship to Google search results. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS This study highlights the importance of considering several dimensions in developing mental health resources and provides direction for strategies to improve existing websites and/or develop new resources.
Objective: Perinatal anxiety (PA) impacts 15 to 24.5% of women though treatment-seeking rates are... more Objective: Perinatal anxiety (PA) impacts 15 to 24.5% of women though treatment-seeking rates are low, despite various available and effective treatment options. The present study aimed to understand pregnant, postpartum, and non-perinatal women’s attitudes toward treatment-seeking and information needs regarding PA. Methods: Non-perinatal, pregnant, and postpartum women ages 18-40 in Central Canada completed an online survey (N = 200). Crosstabulation analyses illustrated differences in treatment preferences across groups. A one-way between-subjects ANOVA informed differences in attitudes toward psychological treatment-seeking across groups.Results: Across groups, women had positive attitudes toward psychological treatment seeking. Women endorsed a preference for PA support from peers and psychoeducation from their family doctor. Most women desired brief 1-page fact sheets on psychological and pharmacological treatment options during early pregnancy or pregnancy planning. Conclusio...
Background Despite elevated prevalence rates of prenatal (antenatal) anxiety across studies (13–2... more Background Despite elevated prevalence rates of prenatal (antenatal) anxiety across studies (13–21%), and prenatal people’s use of the Internet to search for pregnancy-related information and support, research investigating prenatal people’s experiences with online mental health communication, such as blogs, is lacking. This study examined blog entries focused on anxiety in pregnancy to better understand prenatal people’s Internet discourse concerning their experiences with anxiety. Methods A Google search using the keywords “anxiety,” “pregnant,” and “blog” resulted in N = 18 blogs that met inclusion criteria (public blog written in English describing a personal experience with prenatal anxiety in 250 words or more). Blog content was analyzed using a thematic analytic approach based on grounded theory principles. Results Three main themes capturing prenatal people’s experiences with anxiety as written in public blog content were developed from qualitative analyses: 1) etiology (sub...
Background During the perinatal period (including pregnancy and up to 12 months after childbirth)... more Background During the perinatal period (including pregnancy and up to 12 months after childbirth), expectant and new mothers are at an elevated risk of developing depression. Inadequate knowledge about perinatal depression and treatment options may contribute to the low help-seeking rates exhibited by perinatal people. The Internet can be an accessible source of information about perinatal depression; however, the quality of this information remains to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of perinatal depression information websites. Methods After review, 37 websites were included in our sample. To assess overall website quality, we rated websites based on their reading level (Simple Measure of Gobbledegook; SMOG), information quality (DISCERN), usability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool; PEMAT), and visual design (Visual Aesthetics of Website Inventory; VisAWI). Results Websites often exceeded the National Institute of Health's recommend...
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