Can Online Self-help Programs Help With Social Anxiety?

Many people suffer with anxiety symptoms, such as feeling shy or anxious in social situations. Could online self-help programs provide the tools for them to manage their mental health?

The project

For the many people who don’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder but who still face ongoing anxiety every day, online tools could present a major source of relief.

After all, they’re cost-effective, accessible and can be used whenever and wherever people choose. But do they work?

Professor John Powell and his team are exploring that question in one of the first large-scale randomised trials of an online psychological treatment.

The process

Working with more than 1,000 people who live with anxiety, John and his team are looking at the effectiveness of E-Couch, an online psychological tool based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles.

Developed by researchers at the Australian National University, E-Couch includes modules on:

• Exposure to anxiety
• Improving attentiveness
• Modifying thinking
• Relaxation
• Social skills

E-Couch takes up to six weeks to complete. After that time, participants will be assessed for 12 months, with our team studying:

• Anxiety symptoms
• Quality of life
• Mental wellbeing
• Signs of depression

The potential

Huge numbers of people face the symptoms of anxiety every day – from difficulty sleeping to a constant sense of dread.

This study will help us to understand more about the value and limitations of self-help for people who find themselves in this situation. And it will enable us to see whether the E-Couch tool can provide effective and lasting relief.