CBT-Based and eHealth-Supported Case Management for Patients with Panic Disorder or Depression in Primary Care: Results of a Proof of Concept

Evaluation of a team-based intervention in primary care that includes cognitive behavioural therapy elements and case management and was supported by eHealth components in patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD ± AG) and/or depression. In a two-armed cluster-randomised controlled trial (cRCT), mental health conditions were assessed by the Mental Health Index (MHI-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS), Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS), Mobility Inventory for Agoraphobia (MIA), and Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) at baseline (T0), after 6 months (T1), and after 12 months (T2). Scores were analysed as differences from baseline using a mixed linear model with general practitioner (GP) as a random intercept and treatment, time point, and respective baseline value as fixed factors. The majority of participants (mean age 54 years, SD 12.8 years) were women ( n = 40, 67.8%). We found consistent mean effects in favour of the intervention group (MHI-5 index, 6.66 [−7.38; 20.70]; PACIC, 15.92 [4.58; 27.26]; PHQ-9, −3.43 [−5.71; −1.14]; OASIS, −2.89 [−5.41; −0.37]). A cautious interpretation indicates promising effects of the intervention. Obstacles to recruitment included the workload for GPs and medical assistants (MAs), potential reservations regarding eHealth, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trial registration: The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00016622) on February 22nd, 2019. https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00016622 .