(PS2-58) Unguided Self-help Interventions for Panic Disorder with or Without Agoraphobia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/A) is a prevalent anxiety disorder associated with functional impairments, low quality of life, and increased risk of comorbid mental disorders. The unique characteristics of PD/A, including the fear of leaving home and using public transportation, pose additional challenges for patients to access treatment. As technology advances, digital mental health interventions have gained increasing popularity in treating PD/A. Digital mental health interventions can overcome treatment barriers by providing an accessible, anonymous, and low-cost treatment option. Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of digital mental health interventions. Overall, guided self-help has shown comparable effects to traditional individual therapy, whereas unguided self-help has demonstrated smaller effects. Nonetheless, considering the limited availability of professionals, unguided self-help could enhance treatment accessibility for PD/A, presenting a distinct advantage over guided interventions. It is therefore crucial to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of unguided self-help interventions for PD/A. The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic review on the available evidence to understand the efficacy and effectiveness of unguided self-help interventions in adults with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Systematic literature searches across four databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane) were conducted, yielding 1501 articles. The data extraction and analysis are currently ongoing. Random-effects meta-analyses will be performed to investigate the effects of unguided self-help for PD and/or agoraphobia symptom severity. The findings would have significant implications for advancing the development of more efficacious unguided self-help interventions and offering potential pathways to curtail costs and improve accessibility to PD/A treatment.