Psychiatr. praxi. 2026;27(2):E1-E7 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2026.021

Internet CBT for panic disorder - a review

prof. MUDr. Ján Praško, CSc.^1-4, MUDr. Jakub Vaněk, Ph.D.⁵, MUDr. Kamila Bělohradová^{1, 2}, prof. PhDr. Tomáš Sollár, PhD.³, doc. PhDr. Miloš Šlepecký, CSc.³, Bc. Martin Mikula¹, PhDr. Marie Ocisková, Ph.D.²

¹ Centrum duševní rehabilitace, Jessenia, Rehabilitační nemocnice Beroun, Akeso holding, a. s.

² Klinika psychiatrie, Lékařská fakulta a Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc, Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci

³ Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre, Fakulta sociálnych vied a zdravotníctva, Katedra psychologických vied, Slovensko

⁴ Katedra psychoterapie, IPVZ Praha

⁵ Beskydské centrum duševního zdraví, Moravskoslezská nemocnice Frýdek-Místek, p. o.

Objective: This review article summarizes the effectiveness and accessibility of Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (I-CBT) and psychoeducation for patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia. The aim is to provide an overview of the methods and strategies used in these programs to consider their cost-effectiveness and ability to overcome barriers to traditional treatment.

Method: Randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses and systematic reviews published between 2000 and 2024 were included. The emphasis was on therapeutic feedback programs and self-help programs aimed at treating panic disorder and agoraphobia. The analysis also included studies evaluating the effectiveness of I-CBT programs compared to face-to-face therapy, the therapist's role in an online environment, accessibility, cost-effectiveness of these methods and the challenges and limitations of Internet-based forms of CBT.

Results: The results show that I-CBT programs with therapist support are effective in reducing symptoms of panic disorder and agoraphobia. The studies show comparable effectiveness to traditional CBT. I-CBT significantly increases access to treatment for patients who have limited access to traditional therapy due to geographic, health, or financial constraints. I-CBT is less cost-effective due to lower operational costs and the ability to reach more patients. Programs without therapist feedback are effective for patients with milder symptoms but less effective than programs with therapist support.

Conclusion: Internet-based CBT programs represent an effective and cost-effective alternative to traditional CBT methods for panic disorder and agoraphobia. Due to their flexibility and ease of access, they have the potential to significantly expand access to therapy. Future research should focus on identifying predictors of treatment success, the optimal amount of therapist contact, and long-term effectiveness monitoring.

Keywords: online intervention, panic disorder, agoraphobia, internet psychoeducation, online psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), guided self-help.

Accepted: June 10, 2026; Published: July 21, 2026  Show citation