Efficacy of videoconferencing-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy to reduce anxiety disorder severity in LGBTQ+ people: An exploratory trial protocol

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a well-established treatment for anxiety disorders in the general population. However, the efficacy of CBT for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and otherwise non-heterosexual or non-cisgender (LGBTQ+) people with anxiety disorders is still emerging in the literature. This protocol proposes an exploratory, two-group, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of CBT for anxiety disorders against a waitlist control group. METHODS: The trial will recruit 52 LGBTQ+ adults with a primary anxiety disorder diagnosis. The treatment will consist of videoconferencing-delivered CBT using the Unified Protocol (UP). The treatment will be provided in eight weekly individual sessions. Following treatment completion, the waitlist control participants will receive an LGBTQ+ adapted CBT intervention delivered via videoconferencing. The control group will receive the LGBTQ+ adapted UP in weekly sessions for eight weeks. Diagnostic status and symptom severity will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up. Post-treatment qualitative exit interviews will collect participant perspectives on treatment acceptability. RESULTS: Outcome measures will be compared across groups and benchmarked with existing literature to assess efficacy and feasibility, while qualitative analysis will explore intervention acceptability. CONCLUSION: The results are anticipated to inform best-practice remote transdiagnostic treatment of anxiety disorders in LGBTQ+ people.

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