Controlling Anxiety in Late Life

INTERVENTION: The web‐based intervention Living to the full is based on the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy‐based selfhelp intervention ‘Living to the full'. The program consists of nine lessons to be completed in 12 weeks. The modules are based on six core processes to promote cognitive flexibility: acceptance, cognitive defusion, contact with the present moment, self as context, values, and committed action. Each module uses experiential exercises and metaphors, text messages, tailored stories for motivation, and an option to personalize the homepage. Furthermore participants are instructed to practice daily mindfulness exercises of 10‐15 minutes provided on audio and downloadable within the web‐based intervention. In addition, participants will have four face‐to‐face sessions with their POH‐GGZ to evaluate their progress using the intervention, discuss problems and asking for support and advice. TAU will be provided as optimized care as usual. A protocol for older adults with anxiety complaints will be developed, based on the NHG‐guideline 'Anxiety'. The protocol is comprised of psycho‐educative texts and exercises based on problem‐solving therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (such as relaxation or exposure exercises). In order to prevent treatment diffusion the delivery of interventions resembling Living to the Full (i.e., eHealth interventions in general and ACT and mindfulness‐based interventions in particular) are not allowed. As in the Living to the Full 55+ group, the participants in the TAU group will be offered four face‐to‐face sessions with the POH‐GGZ. CONDITION: Anxiety, Older adults ; ; PRIMARY OUTCOME: Severity of symptoms of anxiety will be assessed with the GAD‐7 SECONDARY OUTCOME: Depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9) ; ; Cognitive Emotion Regulation (CERQ) ; ; Mindfulness facets (FFMQ‐SF) ; ; Experiental avoidance (AAQ‐II) ; ; Positive mental health (MHC‐SF) ; ; Quality of Life (EQ‐5D) ; ; Medical consumption and productivity loss (TIC‐P) ; ; INCLUSION CRITERIA: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the following criteria: (a) presence of mild to moderate anxiety symptoms, operationalized as a score between 4 and 15 on the GAD‐7 (b) age between 55 and 75 years; (c) having internet‐access; (d) able to invest approximately 30 minutes per day up to three hours per week; (e) able to communicate in Dutch.