Peer-supported Internet Mediated Psychological Treatment

The study is a mixed methods design consisting of an un-controlled pragmatic effectiveness study combined with semi-structured interviews in order to investigate the participant´s experience of treatment. Participants were recruited from patients who were referred to a central unit for internet- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral therapy) in primary care in Västra Götaland region, Sweden. Peer-supporters were recruited through a swedish patient organization. Participants were adults 18 years of age or older with an anxiety disorder. All participants were interviewed by a psychologist with a diagnostic instrument, a structured interview called PRIME-MD, before starting treatment. After the interview, all patients who were offered iCBT and met the inclusion criteria were requested to participate in the study. Patients who accepted inclusion were guided by both a psychologist and a peer-support in the iCBT treatment used in the study. The iCBT treatment program used is a transdiagnostic program aimed at treating people with mild to moderate anxiety problems. Quantitative data about psychosocial symptoms were collected, and qualitative data about the participants experience of treatment were collected through semi-structured interviews.