A palmtop computer program for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
A pocket computer can nudge adults with GAD to finish CBT homework and track every click.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Schlundt et al. (1999) loaded a CBT homework program onto a palm-sized computer.
Adults with generalized anxiety carried the device and used it in daily life.
The little computer reminded them to do therapy tasks and quietly logged each use.
What they found
People followed the prompts and completed more CBT homework.
The case series showed the gadget raised real-world adherence without extra staff time.
How this fits with other research
Morrison et al. (2017) later moved the same idea to the web. College students with anxiety logged in on their phones and also got medium-sized anxiety relief.
PCummings et al. (2024) pushed it further. Their ABA app for toddlers with autism uses AI prompts at home and shows large gains on autism scores.
Burack et al. (2004) did the opposite. They stayed low-tech and wrote a paper manual for therapists treating older adults. The manual and the palmtop both aim to deliver CBT, but one needs a person and the other needs a battery.
Why it matters
You can boost homework without adding staff. Hand the client a phone app or web link that pings them to practice. Pick one that logs data so you can review it at the next session. Start small: export the log to a CSV and graph completion in Excel. If it works, you have just cloned the 1999 palmtop trick for today’s caseload.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This is the first report of a palmtop computer program developed to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The computer program offers advantages to researchers, therapists, and clients. These advantages include continuous, unobtrusive collection of process data on treatment adherence as well as on the impact of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques in the client's natural setting. In addition, the computer extends treatment beyond the therapy hour and motivates clients to comply with homework assignments by prompting practice of cognitive behavioral strategies. The successful application of the palmtop computer program reported in this integrated series suggests a new line of research directed toward increasing the cost-effectiveness of what is currently the gold-standard treatment for GAD.
Behavior modification, 1999 · doi:10.1177/0145445599234005