Investigators at Australian National University have published new data on anxiety disorders.

"There have been no previous studies of the variables that predict adherence to online depression and anxiety intervention programs among adolescents. However, research of traditionally delivered intervention programs for a variety of health conditions in adolescence suggests that health knowledge, type and level of symptomatology, race, socioeconomic status, treatment setting, and support may predict adherence," researchers in Canberra, Australia report (see also Anxiety Disorders).

"The aim was to compare adherence rates and identify the predictors of adherence to a cognitive behavior therapy website in two adolescent samples that were offered the program in different settings and under different conditions of support. The first adolescent sample consisted of 1000 school students who completed the MoodGYM program in a classroom setting over five weeks as part of a randomized controlled trial. The second sample consisted of 7207 adolescents who accessed the MoodGYM program spontaneously and directly through the open access URL. All users completed a brief survey before the start of the program that measured background characteristics, depression history, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and dysfunctional thinking. Adolescents in the school-based sample completed significantly more online exercises (mean = 9.38, SD = 6.84) than adolescents in the open access community sample (mean = 3. 10, SD = 3.85; t(1088.62) = -28.39, P

The researchers concluded: "Understanding these differences may improve program effectiveness and efficiency."

Neil and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (Predictors of Adherence by Adolescents to a Cognitive Behavior Therapy Website ...