Cited by 206Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesDigital Mental Health InterventionsPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Self‐help and minimal‐contact therapies for anxiety disorders: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy?

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Newman, Michelle G., Erickson, Thane, Przeworski, Amy, Dzus, Ellen·2003·Journal of Clinical Psychology

Abstract

Self-help materials, brief therapies, and treatments involving minimal therapist contact have all been proposed as effective and low-cost interventions for anxiety disorders. However, research also suggests that the therapeutic alliance is a central predictor of therapy outcome. Interestingly, amounts of therapist contact within and across "self-help" interventions vary greatly. It is therefore unclear how much therapist contact is necessary for a positive anxiety disorder treatment outcome. The present article reviews the literature on anxiety disorder treatments using self-help, self-administered, and decreased therapist-contact interventions. Treatment studies are grouped together by anxiety diagnosis as well as amount of therapist contact. It is concluded that self-administered treatments are most effective for motivated clients seeking treatment for simple phobias. Predominantly self-help therapies are efficacious for panic disorder and mixed anxiety samples. On the other hand, minimal-contact therapies have demonstrated efficacy for the greatest variety of anxiety diagnoses.

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Crossref · 10.1002/jclp.10128

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Authors
Newman, M. G., Erickson, T., Przeworski, A., & Dzus, E.
Affiliations
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • Seattle Pacific University (US)
Corresponding author
Newman, Michelle G.
Venue
Journal of Clinical Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-02-10
Volume
59
Issue
3
Pages
251-274
ISSN
  • 0021-9762 (ISSN-L)
  • 1097-4679
OpenAlex
W2169583035
Cited by
206
References
89
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 13
FWCI
1.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH-58593, R01MH058593)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
anxiety disorders, self-help intervention, therapist contact, therapeutic relationship, self-administered therapy, panic disorder, specific phobia, treatment efficacy, brief psychotherapy
MeSH terms
Anxiety Disorders, Humans, Motivation, Patient Education as Topic, Professional-Patient Relations, Self Care, Self-Help Groups, Treatment Outcome

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