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Targeting excessive avoidance behavior to reduce anxiety related to asthma: A feasibility study of an exposure-based treatment delivered online

Targeting excessive avoidance behavior to reduce anxiety related to asthma: A feasibility study of an exposure-based treatment delivered online

Authors :
Marianne Bonnert
Josefin Särnholm
Erik Andersson
Sten-Erik Bergström
Maria Lalouni
Cecilia Lundholm
Eva Serlachius
Catarina Almqvist
Source :
Internet Interventions, Vol 25, Iss , Pp 100415- (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2021.

Abstract

There is an established relationship between anxiety and asthma, which is associated with poor health outcomes. Most previous cognitive behavior therapies (CBT) have focused on comorbid panic disorder whereas anxiety related to asthma may rather be illness-specific. The feasibility of an online CBT targeting avoidance behavior in anxiety related to asthma was evaluated, using a pretest-posttest design. Thirty participants with self-reported anxiety related to asthma were offered an eight-week treatment with therapist support. Mean adherence was good (80% of content), and most participants (89%) reported adequate relief after treatment. Catastrophizing about asthma (CAS), assessed at 2 months after treatment, improved significantly with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.52). All secondary outcomes, including asthma control, avoidance behavior, fear of asthma symptoms and quality of life, improved significantly with moderate to large effect sizes (d: 0.40–1.44). All improvements were stable at 4 months follow up. Weekly ratings showed that a decrease in avoidance behavior predicted a decrease in CAS the following week throughout the treatment period. We conclude that CBT targeting avoidance behavior is a feasible treatment for anxiety related to asthma. The results justify investigation of efficacy and mechanisms of change in a randomized controlled trial.ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03486756.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22147829
Volume :
25
Issue :
100415-
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Internet Interventions
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.92443851f3041948b9fb10647e6fd6b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100415