Purpose: The purpose of this report is to summarize the results of a study validating the effectiveness of the Attacking AnxietyTM self-help program marketed by the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety, Inc.
Method: New customers for Attacking AnxietyTM received with their program materials questionnaires designed to gather information on the history of their problem, including duration and past treatment as well as their current level of distress.
The study utilized the OQ-45.2 TM as the instrument to measure self-reported distress and change over the course of the program. The OQ-45 (American Professional Credentialling Services LLC; P.O.Box 346, Sevenson, MD 21153-0346) has been widely used in research on psychotherapy outcomes.
At the time of this writing, a total 83 customers had returned completed questionnaires including at least two administrations of the OQ-45.2
The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by calculating the magnitude of improvement between the first and last administration of the OQ-45.2.
Results: The average intake score on the OQ-45.2 for this sample of customers was 84 with a standard deviation of 23. This mean and standard deviation is not significantly different from that found on a sample of over 1000 patients entering outpatient mental health treatment for a variety of problems. A score of greater than 63 on the OQ-45 indicates severity of symptoms similar to those experienced by patients receiving outpatient mental healthcare. Scores at 63 or below are characteristic of a community sample of individuals not receiving any mental health care.
The sample of customers experienced an average of 25 points improvement on the OQ-45.2. The average score for the last administration was 59. This result indicates on average customers who used this product experienced a substantial improvement in symptoms and other quality of life indicators and are no longer scoring in a range characteristics of mental health patients.
Summary and conclusions: Results of treatment outcome studies are generally reported as effect size. The effect size is calculated by dividing the improvement on the outcome measure by the standard deviation of the instrument. In this case, Attacking AnxietyTM program resulted in an effect size of 1.1
This compares very favorably with average effect size on treatment outcomes for Anxiety Disorders reported in the scientific literature. For example, one review of the research literature reported that the average effect size for 100 different studies of nine different treatment methods for anxiety was _53. The effect sizes for the different treatments ranges from .26 to 1.25. Effect size for placebo therapies was estimated to be 46.
Care must be taken not to over interpret these very positive results. The sample in the present study was self selected; individuals who ordered the Attacking AnxietyTM program, completed at least part of the self-help program, and returned completed research questionnaires had a better experience than those who did not.
Despite the limitations of the study, the results do validate the effectiveness of the program for those sufficiently motivated to use the Attacking AnxietyTM materials and completed the self report questionnaires. For these individuals, this program may represent a cost effective alternative or adjunct treatment provided by mental health professionals.
