Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Reducing Anxiety

The main objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of an Internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program in reducing anxiety symptoms.

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness and level of acceptability of an Internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program in reducing symptoms of anxiety. The effectiveness of the intervention will be compared with a wait-list control group using a randomized control trial (RCT) design. The participants with high / clinical levels of anxiety from the active treatment group will have the opportunity to read seven ACT modules and receive personalized feedback for their completed homework assignments. The intervention will be delivered online and participants will have seven weeks to complete the seven modules (we might add one extra week of treatment for all participants in the event they need to compensate the treatment delays accumulated during the previous seven weeks).

Participants from the active treatment group will be granted access to seven modules that are structured like chapters of a self-help book adapted for the online environment. In addition, participants from the experimental arm will be guided by an on-line therapist throughout the program duration. The on-line therapists are graduate students in clinical psychology who work under the supervision of an experienced psychotherapist. Participants will be asked to fill in a series of self-report measures to monitor their anxiety and some ACT specific processes (i.e., acceptance, mindfulness, experiential avoidance) throughout the intervention.

During the first seven weeks, participants in the wait-list control group will only be asked to fill in a series of self-report measures to monitor their anxiety and some ACT specific processes (i.e., acceptance, mindfulness, experiential avoidance). Following the experimental group's completion of the program, participants in this group will also receive the intervention. All participants will be contacted 6 months after the intervention has concluded in order to conduct a follow-up assessment.

ACT program consists of seven modules that have been adapted for the online environment. Each module is structured like a therapy session with at least two homework assignments.

The ASI was designed to identify fear of somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety due to a belief that these symptoms may be dangerous or harmful. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 64. Low scores are associated with low levels of anxiety sensitivity, while high scores are associated with high levels of anxiety sensitivity.

Change from Pre- to Post-Intervention (7 weeks), and Change from Post-intervention (week 7) to Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)

The PSWQ was designed to measure participant's level of generalized anxiety or worry. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 16 to 80. Low scores are associated with low levels of worry, while high scores are associated with high levels of worry.

The SPIN was designed to measure participant's level of social phobia. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 68. Low scores are associated with low levels of social phobia, while high scores are associated with high levels of social phobia.

The YBOCS was designed to measure participant's level of obsessions and compulsions (O&C). The scale total score rages from 0 to 40. Low scores are associated with low levels of O&C, while high scores are associated with high levels of O&C.

The PDSS-SR was designed to measure participant's level of panic. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 28. Low scores are associated with low levels of panic, while high scores are associated with high levels of panic.

The PCL-5 was designed to measure participant's level of post-traumatic stress. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 80. Low scores are associated with low levels of post-traumatic stress, while high scores are associated with high levels of post-traumatic stress.

The BDI-II was designed to measure participant's level of depression. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 63. Low scores are associated with low levels of depression, while high scores are associated with high levels of depression.

The OASIS was designed to measure participant's level of anxiety. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 20. Low scores are associated with low levels of anxiety, while high scores are associated with high levels of anxiety.

Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)

The ODSIS was designed to measure participant's level of depression. The scale is unidimensional and the total score rages from 0 to 20. Low scores are associated with low levels of depression, while high scores are associated with high levels of depression

Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)]

The AAQ2 was designed to measure of ACT's model of mental health and behavioral effectiveness. Scores range from 7 to 49 points, with high scores indicating greater experiential avoidance and immobility.

Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)

The MAAS is a 15-item scale designed to assess a core characteristic of dispositional mindfulness. Higher scores reflect higher levels of dispositional mindfulness.

Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)

The BAFT is a 16 item measure of cognitive fusion with anxious thoughts and feelings. Scores range from 16 to 112.

Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)

Pre-intervention, week 2, week 4, week 6, Post-Intervention (7 weeks) and at Follow-up (6 month post-intervention)

The QOLI assesses an individual's quality of life through self-report of the importance they attach to each of 16 life domains. Each item is rated twice according to a) the importance to the overall happiness and satisfaction (0 = not at all important, 1 = important, 2 = extremely important) and b) satisfaction with the area ( -3 = very dissatisfied to +3 = very satisfied). The QOLI is a unidimensional scale with a continuous score that rages from -6 to +6, with negative score indicating a low life quality and the positive score indicating a high life quality.

The WSAS measures impaired functioning.The maximum score of the WSAS is 40 with lower scores suggesting better functioning.

Inclusion Criteria: be fluent in Romanian be over 18 years of age have high levels of anxiety have access to an Internet-connected computer Exclusion Criteria: suicidal ideation substance abuse severe psychiatric disorders a recent change in psychotropic medication (i.e., the dose has been changed within the last month)