Treatment of Panic Disorder Via Internet With a Wireless Temperature Biofeedback Ring

Chimei Medical Center

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Panic Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Muscle Relaxation; Behavioral: Biofeedback

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01671033

IRB 09902-006

Details and patient eligibility

About

From the scarce literature it showed that computer/internet-aided cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) was superior to waitlist and placebo assignment across outcome measures, and the effects of computer/internet-aided CBT were equal to therapist-delivered treatment across anxiety disorders. The aim of this study is to evidence the effectiveness of internet-based relaxation with biofeedback treatment for panic disorder.

Full description

All participants had access to a computer with an internet connection and received the treatment via internet.

Enrollment: 9 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. The participant must fulfill DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder.
2. The participant must be between 20 and 60 years of age.
3. The participant must have the Panic Disorder Severity Scale(PDSS) score ≧8.
4. If the participant is taking prescribed drugs for panic disorder, a) the dosage have to be constant for 6 weeks before starting treatment, and b) the participant have to agree to keep the dosage constant for 2 months after starting treatment.
5. If the participant was already in therapy, the contact must have lasted at least 3 months and not be based on cognitive behavior therapy.
6. All participants have access to a computer with an Internet connection.

Exclusion criteria

1. The participant suffers from any other psychiatric disorder in immediate need of treatment.
2. The participant fulfills DSM-IV criteria for major depression.
3. The participant has epilepsy, kidney problems, strokes, organic brain syndrome, emphysema, heart disorders, or chronic hypertension.
4. The participant has alcoholism or substance dependence.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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9 participants in 3 patient groups

Muscle Relaxation

Experimental group

Description:

The patients of this arm practice on-line muscle relaxation every day.They complete the Brief Symptom Rating Scale(BSRS), Family APGAR(APGAR), the Chinese-version of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36), and the panic diary via internet browser. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale(PDSS)and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) were performed by well-trained clinicians.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Muscle Relaxation

Muscle Relaxation with Biofeedback

Experimental group

Description:

The patients of this arm practice on-line muscle relaxation with finger temperature biofeedback every day. They complete the Brief Symptom Rating Scale(BSRS), Family APGAR(APGAR), the Chinese-version of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36), and the panic diary via internet browser. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale(PDSS)and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) were performed by well-trained clinicians.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Biofeedback

Behavioral: Muscle Relaxation

Waiting-List

No Intervention group

Description:

The patients of this arm waited for four weeks. They complete the Brief Symptom Rating Scale(BSRS), Family APGAR (APGAR), the Chinese-version of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36), and the panic diary via internet browser. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale(PDSS)and Impressions-Improvement(CGI) were performed by well-trained clinicians.