Disorders - Social phobia
Ollendick, T. H., White, S. W., Richey, J., Kim-Spoon, J., Ryan, S. M., Wieckowski, A. T., Coffman, M. C., Elias, R., Strege, M. V., Capriola-Hall, N. N., Smith, M.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) tends to emerge during the early teenage years and is particularly refractory to change even when standard evidence-based CBT treatments are delivered. Efforts have been made to develop novel, mechanistic-driven interventions for this disorder. In the present study, we examined Attention Bias Modification Treatment (ABMT) for youth with SAD.
Behavior Therapy, 50(1) : 126-139
- Year: 2019
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Attention/cognitive bias modification
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
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
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
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)
McKinnon, A., Keers, R., Coleman, J. R. I., Lester, K. J., Roberts, S., Arendt, K., etal.
BACKGROUND: Several delivery formats of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for child anxiety have been proposed, however, there is little consensus on the optimal delivery format. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the child's primary anxiety diagnosis on changes in clinical severity (of the primary problem) during individual CBT, group CBT and guided parent-led CBT. The secondary goal was to investigate the impact of the child's primary anxiety diagnosis on rates of remission for the three treatment formats. METHOD(S): A sample of 1,253 children (5-12 years; Mage = 9.3, SD = 1.7) was pooled from CBT trials carried out at 10 sites. Children had a primary diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SoAD), specific phobia (SP) or separation anxiety disorder (SAD). Children and parents completed a semistructured clinical interview to assess the presence and severity of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders at preintervention, postintervention and follow-up. Linear mixture modelling was used to evaluate the primary research question and logistic modelling was used to investigate the secondary research question. RESULT(S): In children with primary GAD, SAD or SoAD, there were no significant differences between delivery formats. However, children with primary SP showed significantly larger reductions in clinical severity following individual CBT compared to group CBT and guided parent-led CBT. The results were mirrored in the analysis of remission responses with the exception that individual CBT was no longer superior to group CBT for children with a primary SP. The difference between individual and group was not significant when follow-up data were examined separately. CONCLUSION(S): Data show there may be greater clinical benefit by allocating children with a primary SP to individual CBT, although future research on cost-effectiveness is needed to determine whether the additional clinical benefits justify the additional resources required. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, & Allied Disciplines, 59(7) : 763-772
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
, Specific Phobia
- Type: Controlled clinical 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
Romero-Cerecero, O., Islas-Garduno, A. L., Zamilpa, A., Perez-Garcia, M. D., Tortoriello, J.
Social anxiety is one of the most common disorders found in the population attending the first level of health care. Galphimia glauca has been used for many years in Mexican traditional medicine to treat "nervous disorders". A standardized extract of this species has been evaluated in clinical studies that have proven its efficacy and safety in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. In this work, a double-blind clinical trial was carried out, using sertraline as a control. Patients from both sexes (18 to 35 years old) with moderate or severe social anxiety were included. Experimental group was treated daily (orally), for 10 weeks, with an extract from G. glauca containing 0.374 mg/dose of Galphimine-B (G-B, active compound). Patients in the control group were given sertraline (50 mg) in the same conditions. All patients were evaluated every two weeks. Another assessment was done one month after the end of the administration period. A total of 34 patients was included, 17 in each group. Women were predominant, and the mean age was 25 +/- 4.7 years. In patients who received the G. glauca standardized extract, a significant reduction in anxiety was observed, with a value (in the Brief Social Phobia Scale) of 41.1+/-10.3 points at the start and 11.2+/-5.6 points at the end of treatment, while patients treated with sertraline had a value of 37.7+/-7.3 points at the beginning and 11.1+/-5.2 points at the end. No significant difference was observed between the treated groups. In a similar way, the health scale showed a gradual and continuous improvement in each of the five evaluations. In conclusion, the 10-week oral administration of G. glauca standardized extract showed efficacy and safety in patients with social anxiety disorder, without showing a significant difference from patients treated with sertraline. Copyright © 2018 Ofelia Romero-Cerecero et al.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018 (no pagination)(1716939) :
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions (any)
, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Antidepressants (any)
, Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Homeopathic, plant-based medicines
Blackie, R. A., Kocovski, N. L.
Post-event processing refers to negative and repetitive thinking following socially anxious situations and has been posited as a maintaining factor in social anxiety. One strategy for reducing post-event processing may be through self-compassion, which was the primary purpose of the present study. An additional aim was to examine the effect of self-compassion on willingness to engage in future social scenarios. Socially anxious undergraduates (N = 98) provided an impromptu speech and were randomly assigned to a self-compassion, rumination, or control condition. Participants completed measures of post-event processing and willingness to engage in social situations the following day. As expected, self-compassion immediately following a speech led to less post-event processing the next day, as well as greater willingness to engage in future social situations. There was also support for a mediation model illustrating the mechanisms through which self-compassion exerted its effects on these two outcomes. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the utility of self-compassion on reducing the negative and repetitive thinking that serves to maintain social anxiety and increasing willingness to partake in future social events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)
Mindfulness, 9(2) : 654-663
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Other Psychological Interventions
Brooker, E.
Numerous investigations into music performance anxiety have focused on the conscious mind. However, little research has focused on implicit processes for alleviation of this condition. Cognitive hypnotherapy (CH) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), therapies which target implicit processes, were investigated in an intervention study with advanced pianists (n = 46). Participants were of mixed gender aged 18-26 years (three over 30) and were randomly assigned to a therapy or control group. The therapy groups received two interventions of either CH or EMDR during a two-week period between two concerts. Quantitative data were collected through performance assessment, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and a self-report questionnaire (SRQ). The SRQ and a log of performance experience also allowed for qualitative assessment. Results showed that both therapy groups (but not the control) experienced a significant reduction in state anxiety post therapy and a significant improvement in performance. Trait anxiety decreased significantly below baseline levels post intervention in the EMDR group. This is an important area for future research in music psychology and has broader implications in other fields. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)
Psychology of Music, 46(1) : 107-124
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
, Other complementary & alternative interventions
Chavira, D. A., Bustos, C., Garcia, M., Reinosa-Segovia, F., Baig, A., Ng, B., Camacho, A.
Objective: In this study, we tailor a child anxiety cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) program to fit the needs of rural Latino/a Spanish-speaking families and examine the feasibility, acceptability, tolerability, and safety of this intervention using 2 modes of service delivery. Method: Children (n = 31; age 8-13) with anxiety disorders were recruited from primary care settings and randomized to 1 of 2 modes of parent-mediated CBT bibliotherapy: (1) telephone-delivered, therapist-assisted bibliotherapy (TTB; n = 15), and (2) a more minimal contact, self-directed, bibliotherapy condition (SB; n = 16). Independent evaluators administered a diagnostic interview at baseline and posttreatment; demographic and engagement-related questionnaires were also administered. Results: In the TTB group, 10 of 15 parents (66.7%) completed the requisite number of therapist-assisted bibliotherapy sessions, and in the SB group, 4 of 16 parents (25%) completed the requisite number of self-directed bibliotherapy modules; this comparison was significant, chi2(1) = 5.43, p = .02. In the TTB condition, treatment length and session duration were longer than reported in previous studies. Barriers that were most strongly endorsed were stressors and obstacles competing with treatment, as well as treatment demandingness. Findings revealed good satisfaction across the conditions, although ratings were significantly higher in the TTB group, F = 5.67, p = .028. Remission rates (i.e., no anxiety disorder) for those that provided posttreatment data (N = 25) were 50% and 36% for the TTB and SB groups, respectively, chi2(1) = .465, p = .50. Conclusions: Implications of these feasibility findings and suggestions for future research are discussed. (clinicaltrials.gov unique identifier: NCT01491880). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 24(3) : 429-441
- Year: 2018
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Self-help
Chen, J., McLean, J. E.., Kemps, E.
This study investigated the effects of combined audience feedback with video feedback plus cognitive preparation, and cognitive review (enabling deeper processing of feedback) on state anxiety and self-perceptions including perception of performance and perceived probability of negative evaluation in socially anxious individuals during a speech performance. One hundred and forty socially anxious students were randomly assigned to four conditions: Cognitive Preparation + Video Feedback + Audience Feedback + Cognitive Review (CP + VF + AF + CR), Cognitive Preparation + Video Feedback + Cognitive Review (CP + VF + CR), Cognitive Preparation + Video Feedback only (CP + VF), and Control. They were asked to deliver two impromptu speeches that were evaluated by confederates. Participants' levels of anxiety and self-perceptions pertaining to the speech task were assessed before and after feedback, and after the second speech. Compared to participants in the other conditions, participants in the CP + VF + AF + CR condition reported a significant decrease in their state anxiety and perceived probability of negative evaluation scores, and a significant increase in their positive perception of speech performance from before to after the feedback. These effects generalized to the second speech. Our results suggest that adding audience feedback to video feedback plus cognitive preparation and cognitive review may improve the effects of existing video feedback procedures in reducing anxiety symptoms and distorted self-representations in socially anxious individuals. Copyright © 2017
Behavior Therapy, 49(2) : 165-179
- 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)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Biofeedback, neurofeedback, audio/video feedback