Welcome to FearFighter

It is an enduringly effective alternative treatment for sufferers of common mental health problems irrespective of ability, culture, race, gender or sexual preference. CBT therapists are usually psychologists, doctors, nurses, social workers and counsellors. CBT helps sufferers achieve desired change by focussing on current difficulties to identify personalised, time-limited therapy goals and strategies which are continually monitored and evaluated. CBT usually improves common neuroses enduringly after 6-12 sessions with a clinician.

This is a new method for delivering CBT via a computer (standalone PC or internet). Research has shown that CCBT improves anxious/depressed patients about as much as face to face therapy, but is also more cost- and time- efficient without any side effects. It provides a solution for many sufferers who often prefer its convenience, confidentiality and reduction of stigma.

Yes. Extensive research has found that CBT/CCBT is effective for the alleviation of many problems such as:

• anxiety & panic disorders

• phobias (e.g. agoraphobia, social phobia, specific phobia)

• obsessive-compulsive disorder

• post traumatic stress disorder

• depression

FearFighter (www.fearfighter.com) is an Internet delivered course of therapy which aids in the treatment of patients suffering from panic/anxiety & phobia and can offer help where anxiety is comorbid with depression. It requires 1 hour of support for a course of treatment.

FearFighter helps you to work out exactly what brings on your fear, thus you can learn how to face your fear until it subsides. This is called "exposure therapy", i.e., you face your fears for long enough to get used to them.

It provides treatment with the same efficacy as existing CBT services and is a 10-session practised-based self-help treatment system. During the 10 sessions, FearFighter (FF) allows patients to identify specific problems and to develop realistic treatment goals.

Yes, FearFighter has undergone extensive testing and trial pilots involving 700 patients and has received an endorsement by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) as being proven to be clinically effective as well as cost effective. Recently in August, in the NICE Final Appraisal Determination (FAD), FearFighter has been recommended as an option for delivering CBT in the management of panic and phobia. A copy of the NICE FAD can be found on the following website address: http://www.nice.org.uk/pdf/CCBT_FAD.pdf. Furthermore, when the NICE guidelines will be published at the end of the year, FearFighter should be available to all doctors who want to prescribe it.

FF is suitable for patients suffering from panic, anxiety or any phobia and often patients who have chronic somatisation may also be helped.

In order to access FearFighter, you will need to book an appointment with a trained FF Supporter such as a practice nurse or graduate worker. He/she will go through a quick screening questionnaire with you to see if FearFighter would be right for you. Any questions you have will be answered. If both of you agree that FearFighter would be helpful for you, you will then be initiated and shown how FearFighter works. Little or no experience of using computers or a person’s age has not seemed to interfere with people’s use of FearFighter so don’t worry if you haven’t used a computer before.

Then what?

You will then be issued a username and password so that you can log in to FearFighter, once a week, through the Internet. From then onwards, you can either access FearFighter from the surgery/home or from any PC having internet access. FearFighter will help you overcome your anxieties or phobias. In order to achieve this, you will need to do your homework for 4/5 hours per week.

Your nurse will also support you in case of difficulties, which on average is 30 minutes to one hour for the 12 week

1. How do I sign up for FearFighter (FF) Treatment?

You will need to contact your GP, who will provide you with your login details (a userID and password). These details will allow you to login in and use FearFighter.

2. How do I log in to FearFighter (FF) for the first time?

You can access FearFighter (FF) from any page by locating the Login to FearFighter button on the far right . Click on the button. You will be directed to the login page. Type in your userID and password, that were given to you, where indicated.

The welcome page will be displayed upon successful completion of the login sequence. If you still cannot login, please contact your nurse.

1. What should I do if I forget my password?

For security purposes, you will need to contact your surgery or clinic.

2. Does my password expire?

Yes, after 13 weeks from first login.

1. During what hours can I phone CCBT Ltd for technical support?

You can call CCBT LTD, Monday to Friday from 0900-1700.

2. Is there a fee for telephone technical support?

    This is provided free of charge.