What Our Research Says

The aim of the VirtualClinic is to develop and evaluate Internet based education and treatment programs for anxiety and depression. Every person who participates in a VirtualClinic program is asked to participate in a research trial that evaluates and improves that program. We publish the overall results of each of these research programs. This means that other research teams around Australia and around the world can learn from our experience and, hopefully, this will mean that these programs will continue to be improved and will become more freely available.

We have now treated more than 1,400 people using versions of the Sadness (for depression), Panic (for panic disorder), Shyness (for social phobia), Worry (for generalized anxiety disorder) and Anxiety programs (for people with social phobia, GAD, or panic disorder) and found that they are of benefit to most of the people who complete the program.

Below are the research papers that have been published. Please note that this list will be updated regularly, but we have many more publications in preparation, submitted, or awaiting publication.

General Research Papers

Characteristics of adults with anxiety or depression treated at an Internet clinic: Comparison with a national survey and an outpatient clinic.Titov N, Andrews G, Kemp A, Robinson E.  PLoS ONE 2010, 5(5): e10885. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010885. Available at: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0010885.

Is Internet treatment ready for prime time? Andrews G, Titov N. MJA 2010; 192 (11): S45-S47.

Hit and Miss: Innovation and dissemination of evidence based psychological treatments. Andrews G, Titov N. Behaviour Research and Therapy 2009; 47:974-979.

Our Research About Depression

Internet treatment for depression: A randomized controlled trial comparing clinician vs. technician assistance. Titov N, Andrews G, Davies M, McIntyre K, Robinson E, Solley K. PLoS ONE 2010, 5(6): e10939. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010939. Available: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0010939.

Clinician-assisted Internet-based treatment is effective for depression: A randomized controlled trial. Perini S, Titov N, Andrews G. (2009). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 43(6): 571-578. Click to read the abstract.

The Climate Sadness program: an open trial of Internet-based treatment for depression. Perini S, Titov N, Andrews G. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology 2008; 4(2). Available: http://ojs.lib.swin.edu.au/index.php/ejap/article/view/135/140.

Our Research About Anxiety Disorders

Transdiagnostic Internet treatment for anxiety disorders: A randomized controlled trial. Titov N, Andrews G, Johnston L, Robinson E, Spence J. Behaviour Research and Therapy 2010. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.05.014

Our Research About GAD

Internet treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial comparing clinician vs. technician assistance. Robinson E, Titov N, Andrews G, McIntyre K, Schwencke G, Solley K. PLoS ONE 2010, 5(6): e10942. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010942. Available: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0010942.

Clinician-assisted internet treatment is effective for generalized anxiety disorder: randomized controlled trial. Titov N, Andrews G, Robinson E, Schwencke G, Johnston L, Solley K, Choi I. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2009, 43:10, 905-912. Click to read the abstract.

Our Research About Panic

Clinician-assisted Internet-based treatment is effective for panic: A randomized controlled trial. Wims E, Titov N, Andrews G, Choi I. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 44:599-607.

The Climate Panic program: an open trial of Internet-based treatment for panic disorder. Wims E, Titov N, Andrews G. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology 2008; 4(2).

Our Research About Social Phobia

Internet treatment for social phobia reduces comorbidity. Titov N, Gibson M, Andrews G, McEvoy P. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 43:754-9. Click to read the abstract.

An RCT comparing effect of two types of support on severity of symptoms for people completing Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for social phobia. Titov N, Andrews G, Schwencke G, Solley K, Johnston L, Robinson E. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 43:10,920 — 926.

Randomized controlled trial of web-based treatment of social phobia without clinician guidance. Titov N, Andrews G, Choi I, Schwencke G, Johnston L. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 43:913 — 919.

The Shyness Program: Longer Term Benefits, Cost-Effectiveness, and Acceptability. Titov, N., G. Andrews, et al.. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 43: 36-44. Click to read the abstract.

Shyness 5: The clinical effectiveness of Internet-based clinician-assisted treatment of social phobia. Aydos L R, Titov N, Andrews G. Australasian Psychiatry 2009; 17:488-492.

Shyness 3: An RCT of guided vs unguided internet based CBT for social phobia. Titov N, Andrews G, Choi I, Schwencke G, Mahoney A. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 42:1030-1040. Click to read the abstract.

Shyness 2: Treating social phobia online: replication and extension. Titov N, Andrews G, Schwencke G. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 42:595-605. Click to read the abstract.

Shyness 1: Distance treatment for social over the Internet. A randomized controlled trial. Titov N, Andrews G, Schwencke G, Drobny J, Einstein D. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 42:585-594. Click to read the abstract.

Page Last Updated: 24 June 2010, by Dr Nickolai Titov