With a Little Help From a-friend: Participatory Intervention Development of a Peer-Guided Self-Help App for Anxiety Disorders

This research explores the development of an internet-based self-help intervention for anxiety that includes peer-to-peer support. Online interventions are promising but often face low adherence, limiting their effectiveness. To improve acceptability, the study engaged individuals with lived experience in the design process using the IDEAS framework. Initial feedback from nine participants indicated a need for clearer guidance and more direct communication features. A pilot test with 128 participants revealed that most did not use the app more than once, and few completed baseline questionnaires. These findings suggest low feasibility and acceptability of the app, indicating that enhancing communication features and simplifying the app could improve the effectiveness of peer-supported self-help intervention.