Effectiveness of Video-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention on Health Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity of Individuals with High Levels of COVID-19 Anxiety

Cognitive-behavioral interventions are known as first-line treatments for anxiety disorders. However, complexities such as quarantine have made it difficult to provide face-to-face intervention. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of video-based cognitive-behavioral intervention on health anxiety and anxiety sensitivity of individuals with high levels of COVID-19 anxiety.

The present study was semi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design with the control group. According to the principles of diagnosis of health anxiety in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition and COVID-19 Anxiety Questionnaire, 138 participants with high levels of COVID-19 anxiety were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned into two groups of experimental (n = 69) and control (n = 69). The experimental group received 10-session video-based cognitive-behavioral intervention compared to the control group. The research instruments included the COVID-19 Anxiety Questionnaire, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory, and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index. At the end, the data were analyzed by using statistical method of MANCOVA.

The results of this study showed that cognitive-behavioral intervention led to a reduction in health anxiety and anxiety sensitivity of experimental group participants (p < 0.001). In the meantime, the present intervention has been more effective for the components of health anxiety.

Due to the widespread public anxiety about COVID-19 as well as the complexities of face-to-face cognitive-behavioral therapy, the use of video-based cognitive-behavioral intervention can be an immediate, concise, and inexpensive way to improve mental health of the community.