What the trial was testing
The EMPOWER-ED enrolled 170 patients with anxiety. The study was sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
People using the online program were over 5 times more likely to stop benzodiazepines completely.
JAMA network open · 2026 · NCT04572750
These findings — that using the online self-help program made patients five times more likely to quit benzodiazepines — were published in the JAMA network open and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 170 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with anxiety, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was a large-scale study showing that a self-help digital program can help people safely stop benzodiazepines. The EMPOWER program is publicly available. If you've been taking benzodiazepines long-term and want to stop, talk to your doctor about tapering options and whether this type of program might work for you.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open anxiety trials
Creating Health Course Study for People With Rheumatological Conditions and Mood Disorders
The goal of this project is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of an online health program designed to improve diet and self-care in patients with rheumatological conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjogren's syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and moderate depression. Additionally, investigators will assess the program's effectiveness, as well as the challenges and facilitators involved in using an online wellness program to reduce fatigue and enhance the quality of life in patients suffering from these conditions.
Teen Recovery Through Inspiration, Support, and Empowerment
The goal of this pilot study is to test the effectiveness of a novel intervention for teenagers (ages 15-18) with mental health conditions who have been released from an acute care psychiatric facility. The intervention aims to reduce suicidality, depression, anxiety, re-hospitalization, and to improve mental health recovery by using an online recovery education and support program. The current standard of care (SOC) for these patients at discharge includes a discharge plan with a list of their medication(s), anticipated outpatient appointment(s), and corresponding information on when and where to find community resources. The intervention being tested involves the implementation of an online recovery education and support (RES) program, involving one-on-one and small group meetings led by trained teen peers (TPs) and peer support specialists (PSS). Participants will be assigned to either Cohort A or B for 8 weeks. Cohort A will be the intervention group with online access to an RES, TP, and PSS. * Week 1-4: One-on-one meetings with PSS and TP for education and support. Assessments will be completed at week 2 and 4. * Week 5 and 7: one-one meetings with PSS and TP for education and support. * Week 6 and 8: small group meetings with PSS, TP, and other participants. Assessments will be completed during Weeks 6 and 8. Cohort B will be the SOC group with no PSS, TP, or RES. * Weeks 1-4: Weekly check in phone calls with a member of the research team. Assessments will be completed at Weeks 2 and 4. * Weeks 5-8: Check in phone calls with a member of the research team every other week. Assessments will be completed at weeks 6 and8. Data collected from participant assessments, adherence to medication, and re-admittance to a psychiatric facility will be used to compare the intervention to the SOC.