Disorders - Social phobia
Giusti, L., Ussorio, D., Salza, A., Malavolta, M., Aggio, A., Bianchini, V., Casacchia, M., Roncone, R.
Background: People with anxiety disorders tend to
focus on unpleasant and threatening stimuli. Our aims were to evaluate: (1) the presence of paranoid ideation, and the jumping to conclusions (JTC)
bias in young suffering from an anxiety disorder and (2) the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioural intervention (CBT) to manage anxiety combined
with 2 modules to reduce the JTC bias. Methods: Psychopathology, social functioning, metacognition and the JTC bias were investigated in 60 subjects,
randomly assigned to the experimental CBT group + treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 35) or to a wait-list group (n = 25) receiving only TAU. Each group
was divided into 2 subgroups based on the score of the SCL-90 subscale paranoid ideation (high paranoid ideation, HP; low paranoid ideation, LP). The
experimental group received a weekly session of a CBT for a 3-month period. Results: At baseline, 46.7% of our sample showed a HP and 38% showed a
JTC biasAt the end of the intervention, greater effectiveness in improving anxious symptoms, paranoid ideation, interpersonal sensitivity and
interpersonal relationship was reported in the experimental CBT + TAU group, with a statistically significant reduction of the JTC bias, displayed by
14.3% of the experimental group versus the 36% of the TAU group. In the same variables, greater benefits were reported for the HP experimental
subgroup. Conclusions: Our study suggests the gains to integrate an anxiety CBT with modules to reduce the JTC bias in subjects with paranoid
ideation, which may negatively impact the course of the disease. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)
Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 12(6) : 1072-
1080
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic
Disorder, Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Other Psychological Interventions
Homer, S. R., Deeprose, C.
N/A
Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry, 59 : 87-
91
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Rawdon, C., Murphy, D., Motyer, G., Munafo, M. R., Penton-Voak, I., Fitzgerald,
A.
This study aimed to examine
the effect of emotion recognition training on social anxiety symptoms among adolescents, aged 15-18 years. The study included a screening session,
which identified participants who scored above a cut-off on a self-report measure of social anxiety for enrolment into a randomized controlled trial
(Clinical Trials ID: NCT02550379). Participants were randomized to an intervention condition designed to increase the perception of happiness over
disgust in ambiguous facial expressions or a sham intervention control condition, and completed self-report measures of social anxiety, fear of
negative evaluation, anxiety-related disorders, and depressive symptoms. The intervention group demonstrated a strong shift in the balance point at
which they perceived happiness over disgust in ambiguous facial expressions. This increase in positive perception was not associated with any changes
in the primary outcome of social anxiety; however, some evidence of improvement in symptomatology was observed on one of a number of secondary
outcomes. Those in the intervention group had lower depression symptoms at 2-week follow-up, compared to those in the control group who received the
sham intervention training. Potential reasons for why the shift in balance point measurement was not associated with a concurrent shift in symptoms
of social anxiety are discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
Psychiatry Research, 263 : 257-267
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Attention/cognitive bias
modification
Salzer, S., Stefini, A., Kronmuller, K. T., Leibing, E., Leichsenring, F., Henningsen, P., Peseschkian, H., Reich, G., Rosner, R., Ruhl, U., Schopf, Y., Steinert, C., Vonderlin, E., Steil, R.
BACKGROUND: Although social anxiety disorder (SAD) has an early onset and is frequently found in adolescence, evidence for
psychotherapeutic treatments of SAD in adolescents is rather scarce. Within the Social Phobia Psychotherapy Research Network (SOPHO-NET), we examined
the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy (PDT) compared to a waiting list (WL) in these patients.\rMETHODS: In a
multicenter randomized controlled superiority trial, 107 patients, aged 14-20 years, were randomized to CBT (n = 34), PDT (n = 34), or WL (n = 39).
Assessments were made at baseline, at the end of treatment, and 6 and 12 months after termination. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children
and Adolescents (LSAS-CA) applied by raters masked to the treatment condition was used as the primary outcome. As secondary outcomes, rates of
response and remission and the Social Phobia Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) were used.\rRESULTS: Both treatments were superior to WL in the LSAS-CA (CBT: p
= 0.0112, d = 0.61, 95% CI 0.14-1.08; PDT: p = 0.0261, d = 0.53, 95% CI 0.06-1.00). At the end of treatment, response rates were 66, 54, and 20% for
CBT, PDT, and WL. The corresponding remission rates were 47, 34, and 6%, respectively. CBT and PDT were significantly superior to WL regarding
remission (CBT: p = 0.0009, h = 1.0; PDT: p = 0.0135, h = 0.74), response (CBT: p = 0.0004, h = 0.97; PDT: p = 0.0056, h = 0.72), and the SPAI (CBT:
p = 0.0021, d = 0.75, 95% CI 0.27-1.22; PDT: p = 0.0060, d = 0.66, 95% CI 0.19-1.13). Treatment effects were stable at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.
\rCONCLUSIONS: These results are comparable to the large SOPHO-NET trial in adults (n = 495). Early treatments for social anxiety are needed in order
to prevent chronic manifestation of SAD.
Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, 87(4) : 223-
233
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Psychodynamic/Psychoanalysis
Stefan, C.A., Capraru, C., Szilagyi, M.
The aims of this study were two-fold: (1) to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program
in a sample of college students at risk for social anxiety and (2) to investigate whether emotion regulation strategies and self-compassion act as
mechanisms of MBSR effectiveness. Participants in this study were predominantly female college students identified as at risk for social anxiety, who
were randomly assigned to either the MBSR intervention or to the wait list control group. The final sample included 22 participants in the MBSR group
and 24 in the wait list control group for whom pre-intervention and post-intervention (1 week after the MBSR intervention was finalized) data were
gathered on self-report measures. The results showed that MBSR participation lead to significant reductions in social anxiety and perceived stress.
Also, significant post-intervention differences in favor of the MBSR group compared to the wait list control group were found for self-compassion and
acceptance, but not for positive reinterpretation. Mediation analyses employing a bootstrap procedure with 95% confidence intervals were conducted to
test the potential MBSR intervention mechanisms. The results revealed that acceptance and self-compassion mediated the relationship between MBSR
participation and social anxiety, as well as MBSR participation and perceived stress. The current findings indicated that mindfulness-based
interventions might work by: (1) reducing self-identification with successes and failures in social and stressful situations and (2) deactivating
appraisals concerning anxiety provoking situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)
Mindfulness, 9(5) : 1509-
1521
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy
Stevens, E. S., Behar, E., Jendrusina,
A. A.
Cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) is a promising treatment modality for social anxiety disorder, but
effect sizes are relatively small across investigations (Hallion & Ruscio, 2011). Additionally, the extent to which CBM-I impacts other cognitive,
emotional, and behavioral outcomes is unclear. This study investigated whether two empirically supported treatment components for anxiety disorders,
imaginal exposure (IE) and relaxation, augment the effects of CBM-I and increase the extent to which the effects of CBM-I generalize to behavioral
and affective outcomes. We randomly assigned 111 undergraduate students with social anxiety to undergo IE, relaxation, or neutral thinking prior to
CBM-I, then measured their interpretation biases, as well as their speaking time, anxiety, and subjective evaluations of performance during a speech
task. Results indicated that individuals who received IE prior to CBM-I evidenced more adaptive interpretation biases and less behavioral avoidance
during the speech task than did individuals who engaged in relaxation or neutral thinking. However, they did not report differential anxiety,
habituation, or evaluations of their performance on the speech task. These findings suggest that the combination of CBM-I with adjunct components
that target behavioral, rather than cognitive, mechanisms can facilitate transfer of the effects of CBM-I to reducing behavioral avoidance. (PsycINFO
Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)
Behavior Therapy, 49(6) : 995-
1007
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Attention/cognitive bias
modification, Relaxation
Busa, S., Janssen, A., Lakshman, M.
In addition to the high
prevalence of gender dysphoria among transgender youth, this population is at greater risk of suffering from additional mental health disorders,
including social anxiety disorder, compared to their cisgender peers. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been established as an effective form of
treatment for social anxiety disorder. It is recommended that therapists modify and adapt CBT when working with minority groups such as transgender
youth to ensure that the treatment is efficacious and culturally sensitive. However, literature assessing the efficacy of CBT for transgender youth
with mental health issues is scant. As a result, there is no empirical literature on effective treatment for transgender youth who meet criteria for
social anxiety disorder alone or youth who meet criteria for social anxiety disorder and gender dysphoria. This literature review aims to identify
current research related to prevalence of mental health disorders in transgender youth, the current literature on adaptations of cognitive behavioral
techniques, and the need for treatment research on adaptation of CBT for transgender individuals, specifically those with social anxiety disorder and
gender dysphoria. Copyright © Samantha Busa et al. 2018.
Transgender Health, 3(1) : 27-
33
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Modini, M., Abbott, M. J.
Background and Objectives: Pre-event rumination has a clear role in
maintaining social anxiety according to cognitive models. However, it is unclear what specific strategies can address pre-event rumination for
individuals diagnosed with SAD. The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a brief intervention on multiple aspects of pre-event
rumination, state anxiety and performance and threat appraisals. Additionally, the trajectory of pre-event rumination was investigated over four
days. Method(s): Participants with SAD were informed they would be required to complete a speech task in four days' time and were randomised to an
intervention (n = 27) or a non-active control group (n = 25). The intervention group were instructed to \"ban\" pre-event rumination using a
metacognitive therapy technique known as detached mindfulness. All participants completed daily measures of pre-evet rumination that assessed
frequency, uncontrollability, engagement and distress associated with pre-event rumination. On the day of the speech task, participants also
completed state and cognitive measures before delivering the speech task. Result(s): The intervention group reported reduced frequency,
uncontrollability and distress associated with pre-event rumination, compared to the control group. There was no difference between groups for
performance and threat appraisals as well as state anxiety. Rumination is a stable and robust process, with an increase in frequency and associated
distress 24 hours before a feared social situation. Limitation(s): The lack of an active control group precludes comparisons to more traditional
cognitive-behavioural therapy strategies for pre-event rumination. Conclusion(s): Pre-event rumination is a durable process but banning pre-event
rumination using metacognitive therapy techniques shows promise for specifically addressing this maladaptive process. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier
Ltd
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 61 : 72-79
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Mindfulness based
therapy
Abbasi, F., Shariati, K., Tajikzadeh, F.
Objectives: The current study aimed at
investigating the effect of neurofeedback (NF) therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on reduction of anxiety symptoms in females with social
anxiety disorders. Method(s): The current pseudo-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and a control group was conducted on a population of
patients with social anxiety disorder referring to a psychology clinic in Kurdistan Province, Iran. The sample size comprised of 30 females selected
by random sampling method and assigned to groups of NF and CBT. Data elicited from the Libowitz social anxiety questionnaire to detect the subjects
with social anxiety and the Millon clinical multiaxial inventory (MCMI III) in order to exclude subjects with personality disorder. Data were
analyzed with SPSS. Covariance analysis test and dependent t test were performed on CBT and NF groups. Result(s): The current study findings showed
that both CBT and NF groups were impressive in reducing the level of social anxiety in the study subjects. Also, based on the results of the current
study the therapy methods had no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion(s): Both treatments were significantly effective, and
therefore both NF and CBT can be applied as choice therapies to treat social anxiety. Copyright © 2018, Archives of Neuroscience.
Archives of Neuroscience, 5 (3) (no
pagination)(e62341) :
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Biofeedback, neurofeedback, audio/video feedback
Villabo, M.A., Narayanan, M., Compton, S.N., Kendall, P.C., Neumer, S.P.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) and group CBT (GCBT)
for referred children with anxiety disorders within community mental health clinics. Method: Children (N = 165; ages 7-13 years) referred to 5
clinics in Norway because of primary separation anxiety disorder (SAD), social anxiety disorder (SOC), or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) based on
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.) criteria participated in a randomized clinical trial. Participants were
randomized to ICBT, GCBT, or wait list (WL). WL participants were randomized to 1 of the 2 active treatment conditions following the wait period.
Primary outcome was loss of principal anxiety disorder over 12 weeks and 2-year follow-up. Results: Both ICBT and GCBT were superior to WL on all
outcomes. In the intent-to-treat analysis, 52% in ICBT, 65% in GCBT, and 14% in WL were treatment responders. Planned pairwise comparisons found no
significant differences between ICBT and GCBT. GCBT was superior to ICBT for children diagnosed with SOC. Improvement continued during 2-year
follow-up with no significant between-groups differences. Conclusions: Among anxiety disordered children, both individual and group CBT can be
effectively delivered in community clinics. Response rates were similar to those reported in efficacy trials. Although GCBT was more effective than
ICBT for children with SOC following treatment, both treatments were comparable at 2-year follow-up. Dropout rates were lower in GCBT than in ICBT,
suggesting that GCBT may be better tolerated. Response rates continued to improve over the follow-up period, with low rates of relapse. (PsycINFO
Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement What is the public health significance of this article?-Findings indicate that
both individual and group cognitive-behavioral therapy can be effectively delivered by community mental health practitioners with only a minimal
amount of formal training. Outcomes were similar to those reported in more controlled settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights
reserved)
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(9) : 751-
764
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Other service delivery and improvement
interventions
Taheri, E., Amiri, M., Birashk, B., Gharrayi, B., Taheri, H.
The aim of this study was to compare of group behavioral
activation treatment and group cognitive therapy in reducing Social anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and negative attributions and improving
general functioning. The design of the present study was pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow up with two groups: experimental group (group
behavioral activation treatment) and comparison group (group cognitive therapy). The sample consisted of 23 university students who were selected on
the base of inclusion criterion of having diagnosis of social anxiety disorder and exclusion criteria of having axis I disorders including Bipolar,
psychotic, and substance abuse with use of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders and being concurrently under psychotherapy or
medication. All participants also completed the Social Phobic Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, interpretation of negative social events and the
Work and Social Adjustment Scale. They were randomly assigned to the experimental and comparison groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions
of group behavioral activation treatment and the comparison group received 8 sessions of group cognitive therapy. The data analyzed by analysis of
covariance. Results showed a statistically significant superiority of group behavioral activation treatment over group cognitive therapy in reducing
depressive symptoms (p<.05) and a statistically significant superiority of group cognitive treatment over group behavioral activation therapy in
reducing interpretation of negative social events (p<.05). But there were no statistically significant difference between two interventions in social
anxiety and functional impairment (p>.05). The findings of follow-up also showed the effects of both treatments have been continued in overall. The
implications of the findings were discussed. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public
Health, 3(Special Issue) : S20
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
McCall, H.C., Richardson, C.G., Helgadottir,
F.D., Chen, F.S.
Background: Treatment rates for social anxiety,
a prevalent and potentially debilitating condition, remain among the lowest of all major mental disorders today. Although computer-delivered
interventions are well poised to surmount key barriers to the treatment of social anxiety, most are only marginally effective when delivered as
stand-alone treatments. A new, Web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention called Overcome Social Anxiety was recently created to
address the limitations of prior computer-delivered interventions. Users of Overcome Social Anxiety are self-directed through various CBT modules
incorporating cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments. The intervention is personalized to each user's symptoms, and automatic email
reminders and time limits are used to encourage adherence. Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a randomized controlled trial to
investigate the effectiveness of Overcome Social Anxiety in reducing social anxiety symptoms in a nonclinical sample of university students. As a
secondary aim, we also investigated whether Overcome Social Anxiety would increase life satisfaction in this sample. Methods: Following eligibility
screening, participants were randomly assigned to a treatment condition or a wait-list control condition. Only those assigned to the treatment
condition were given access to Overcome Social Anxiety; they were asked to complete the program within 4 months. The social interaction anxiety scale
(SIAS), the fear of negative evaluation scale (FNE), and the quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction questionnaire-short form (Q-LES-Q-SF) were
administered to participants from both conditions during baseline and 4-month follow-up lab visits. Results: Over the course of the study,
participants assigned to the treatment condition experienced a significant reduction in social anxiety (SIAS: P < .001, Cohen d = 0.72; FNE: P <
.001, Cohen d = 0.82), whereas those assigned to the control condition did not (SIAS: P = .13, Cohen d = 0.26; FNE: P = .40, Cohen d = 0.14).
Additionally, a direct comparison of the average change in social anxiety in the 2 conditions over the course of the study showed that those assigned
to the treatment condition experienced significantly more improvement than those assigned to the control condition (SIAS: P = .03, Cohen d = 0.56;
FNE: P = .001, Cohen d = 0.97). Although participants assigned to the treatment condition experienced a slight increase in life satisfaction, as
measured by Q-LES-Q-SF scores, and those assigned to the control condition experienced a slight decrease, these changes were not statistically
significant (treatment: P = .35, Cohen d = -0.18; control: P = .30, Cohen d = 0.18). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that Overcome Social Anxiety
is an effective intervention for treating symptoms of social anxiety and that it may have further utility in serving as a model for the development
of new interventions. Additionally, our findings provide evidence that contemporary Web-based interventions can be sophisticated enough to benefit
users even when delivered as stand-alone treatments, suggesting that further opportunities likely exist for the development of other Web-based mental
health interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(3) : ArtID e91
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT), Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)