Multimedia Field Test Thinking About Exposures? There's an App for That!

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• Anxiety disorders are prevalent, affecting youth and adults.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), particularly exposure therapy, is an effective treatment.
• Smartphone applications offer a scalable platform for mental health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the features and potential utility of the Anxiety Coach smartphone application.
• To evaluate the app's suitability for delivering exposure-based CBT for anxiety.

Main Methods:

• The Anxiety Coach app utilizes a structured approach for self-help anxiety management.
• Key features include self-monitoring of anxiety symptoms, psychoeducation, and guided exposure tasks.
• The app incorporates a fear hierarchy development tool and prompts for in-task fear ratings.

Main Results:

• The app focuses on exposure tasks, offering a library of relevant activities for common fears.
• It guides users to complete exposure tasks until fear ratings decrease by half.
• The app integrates psychoeducation and coping skills like cognitive restructuring.

Conclusions:

• Anxiety Coach has the potential to significantly broaden the accessibility of exposure-based CBT.
• The app serves as a valuable tool for both individuals managing anxiety and clinicians.
• Its design supports the core components of exposure therapy in a digital format.