Disorders - Social phobia
Liang, C. W., Hsu, W. Y.
This study investigated the differential effects of two attention bias modification (ABM) with different stimulus durations. Seventy-two undergraduates with subclinical social anxiety were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: an ABM condition with either a 100-ms or a 500-ms stimulus duration (ABM-100/ ABM-500) or an attention placebo (AP) condition with either a 100-ms or a 500-ms stimulus duration (AP-100/ AP-500). Participants completed the pre-assessments, eight attentional training sessions, and post-assessments. A modified Posner paradigm was used to assess changes in attentional processing. After completion of attentional training, the ABM-100 group significantly speeded up their responses to 100-ms invalid trials, regardless of the word type. The ABM-100 group also exhibited significant reduced latencies to 500-ms invalid social threat trials and a marginally significant reduced latencies to 500-ms invalid neutral trials. The ABM-500 group showed significant reduced latencies to 500-ms invalid social threat trials. Both ABMs significantly reduced participants' fear of negative evaluations and interactional anxiousness relative to their comparative AP. The effects on social anxiety did not differ between the two ABMs. This study suggests that although both ABMs using short and long stimulus durations reduce some aspects of social anxiety, they influence participants' attentional disengagement in different ways.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Psychiatry Research, 240 : 80-7
- Year: 2016
- 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
Scaini, S., Belotti, R., Ogliari, A., Battaglia, M.
The effectiveness of different types of CBT for children and adolescents suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is generally supported. However, no systematic efforts have been made to quantitatively summarize and analyse the impact of specific variables on therapeutic outcome. Here, we assessed the magnitude and duration of CBT effectiveness in children and adolescents with SAD. The effectiveness of CBT was supported by the effect sizes of studies that had examined pre-post (g = 0.99), between-group (g = 0.71), and follow-up responses (follow-up vs. pre-test mean g = 1.18, follow-up vs. post-test mean g = 0.25). A significant moderating effect was found for the variable "number of treatment sessions". In addition, larger effect sizes were found in studies that included "Social Skills Training" sessions in the intervention package. Data support the effectiveness of CBT interventions and its durability for SAD in children and adolescents. Adding social skills training to the intervention package can further enhance the impact of treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 42 : 105-112
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Roushani, K., Nejad, S. B., Arshadi, N., Honarmand, M. M., Fakhri, A.
Background: Social anxiety is an extremely harmful disorder affectingmanyaspects of life and causes limited capability of encountering social situations among individuals. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the unified transdiagnostic treatment on social anxiety and positive and negative affect in students. Methods: The statistical population of this study included all female undergraduate students with social anxiety in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. 32 female undergraduate students of medical sciences university of Ahvaz were selected among those with social anxiety score of 19 or more (cut-off score) through multistage random samplingmethodand were randomly placed in experimental and control groups. Social phobia inventory (SPIN) and positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) were implemented on subjects of both groups before and after conducting the intervention. Unified transdiagnostic treatment was performed on the experimental group within 8 sessions of 90 minutes, but the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed by multivariate covariance analysis. Results: Results showed a significant difference between experimental and control groups in terms of social anxiety and negative and positive affect, and unified transdiagnostic treatmenthas reduced social anxiety and negative affect and also has increased positive affect in experimental group. Conclusions: It may be concluded based on the results of this study that unified transdiagnostic treatment is effective on recovery of social anxiety and negative and positive affects among the students. Therefore, clinical therapists are advised to use this intervention. Copyright © 2016, Razavi Hospital.
Razavi International Journal of Medicine, 4 (4) (no pagination)(e41233) :
- Year: 2016
- 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)
Schweden, T. L., Pittig, A., Brauer, D., Klumbies, E., Kirschbaum, C., Hoyer, J.
Symptoms of depersonalization during feared social situations are commonly experienced by individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Despite its clinical relevance, it is not addressed in standard treatment manuals and it remains unclear if depersonalization is reduced by well-established treatments. This study investigated whether cognitive therapy (CT) for SAD effectively reduces depersonalization and whether pre-treatment severity of depersonalization predicts or mediates treatment outcome. In a randomized controlled trial, patients underwent the standardized Trier Social Stress Test before and after CT (n = 20) or a waitlist period (n = 20) and were compared to healthy controls (n = 21). Self-reported depersonalization was measured immediately after each stress test. Depersonalization significantly decreased following CT, especially in treatment responders (etap2 = 0.32). Pre-treatment depersonalization did neither predict nor mediate post-treatment severity of social anxiety. Further prospective studies are needed for a better scientific understanding of this effect. It should be scrutinized whether SAD-patients suffering from depersonalization would benefit from a more specific therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 43 : 99-105
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
Ebrahiminejad, S., Poursharifi, H., Roodsari, A. B., Zeinodini, Z., Noorbakhsh, S.
Background: Social anxiety is one of the most common psychological disorders that exists among children and adolescents, and it has profound effects on their psychological states and academic achievements. Objectives: Theaimof this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)ondiminishing social anxiety disorder symptoms and improving the self-esteem of female adolescents suffering from social anxiety. Patients and Methods: Semi-experimental research was conducted on 30 female students diagnosed with social anxiety. From the population of female students who were studying in Tehran's high schools in the academic year of 2013 -2014, 30 students fulfilling the DSM-5 criteria were selected using the convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group received eight sessions of MBCT treatment. The control group received no treatment. All participants completed the social phobia inventory (SPIN) and Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES) twice as pre-and post-treatment tests. Results: The results from the experimental group indicated a statistically reliable difference between the mean scores from SPIN (t (11) = 5.246, P = 0.000) and RSES (t (11) = -2.326, P = 0.040) pre-treatment and post-treatment. On the other hand, the results of the control group failed to reveal a statistically reliable difference between the mean scores from SPIN (t (12) = 1.089, P = 0.297) and RSES pre-treatment and post-treatment (t (12) = 1.089, P = 0.000). Conclusions: The results indicate that MBCT is effective on both the improvement of self-esteem and the decrease of social anxiety. The results are in accordance with prior studies performed on adolescents. Copyright © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal.
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 18(11) : e25116
- Year: 2016
- 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)
, Mindfulness based therapy
Fitzgerald, A., Rawdon, C., Dooley, B.
The current study aimed to examine the efficacy of attention bias modification (ABM) training to reduce social anxiety in a community-based sample of adolescents 15-18 years. The study used a single-blind, parallel group, randomized controlled trial design (Clinical Trials ID: NCT02270671). Participants were screened in second-level schools using a social anxiety questionnaire. 130 participants scoring >= 24 on the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C) were randomized to the ABM training (n = 66)/placebo (n = 64) group, 120 of which completed pre-, post-, and 12-week follow-up data collection including threat bias, anxiety, and depression measures. The ABM intervention included 4 weekly training sessions using a dot-probe task designed to reduce attention bias to threatening stimuli. ABM training did not alter the primary outcomes of attention bias to threat or social anxiety symptoms raising questions about the efficacy of ABM as an intervention for adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Behaviour Research and Therapy, 84 : 1-8
- Year: 2016
- 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
Heeren, A., Coussement, C., McNally, R. J.
Background: Uncertainty abounds regarding the putative mechanisms of attention bias modification (ABM). Although early studies showed that ABM reduced anxiety proneness more than control procedures lacking a contingency between cues and probes, recent work suggests that the latter performed just as well as the former did. In this experiment, we investigated a non-emotional mechanism that may play a role in ABM. Methods: We randomly assigned 62 individuals with a DSM-IV diagnosis of social anxiety disorder to a single-session of a non-emotional contingency training, non-emotional no-contingency training, or control condition controlling for potential practice effects. Working memory capacity and anxiety reactivity to a speech challenge were assessed before and after training. Results: Consistent with the hypothesis of a practice effect, the three groups likewise reported indistinguishably significant improvement in self-report and behavioral measures of speech anxiety as well as in working memory. Repeating the speech task twice may have had anxioltyic benefits. Limitations: The temporal separation between baseline and post-training assessment as well as the scope of the training sessions could be extended. Conclusions: The current findings are at odds with the hypothesis that the presence of visuospatial contingency between non-emotional cues and probes produces anxiolytic benefits. They also show the importance of including a credible additional condition controlling for practice effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 50 : 61-67
- Year: 2016
- 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
Kishimoto, T., Krieger, T., Berger, T., Qian, M., Chen, H., Yang, Y.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common mental disorders in Western countries. The 12-month prevalence of SAD in China is much lower (0.2%) than in Western countries. However, it translates into an enormous number of people in China in combination with a huge unmet need for treatment of mental disorders. Internet interventions might be an easily accessible and cost-effective way to deliver evidence-based treatment for mental disorders to people who otherwise never would have the opportunity to receive effective treatment. Although there is a wealth of studies that show the efficacy and effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) in Western countries, there is a considerable lack of studies that investigate the efficacy of such treatments in non-Western countries. So far, several studies have evaluated the efficacy of ICBT for SAD in controlled trials in Western countries with promising results. An important discussion in the field is about the degree of support and guidance needed during Internet-based self-help treatments. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of an established self-help program for increased social anxiety in a Chinese population. Additionally, we investigated whether minimal guidance by trained therapists had an incremental value regarding symptom improvement and adherence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 85(5) : 317-319
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Masia-Warner, C., Colognori, D., Brice, C., Herzig, K., Mufson, L., Lynch, C., Reiss, P. T., Petkova, E., Fox, J., Moceri, D. C., Ryan, J., Klein, R. G.
BACKGROUND: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) typically onsets in adolescence and is associated with multiple impairments. Despite promising clinical interventions, most socially anxious adolescents remain untreated. To address this clinical neglect, we developed a school-based, 12-week group intervention for youth with SAD, Skills for Academic and Social Success (SASS). When implemented by psychologists, SASS has been found effective. To promote dissemination and optimize treatment access, we tested whether school counselors could be effective treatment providers.
METHOD: We randomized 138, ninth through 11th graders with SAD to one of three conditions: (a) SASS delivered by school counselors (C-SASS), (b) SASS delivered by psychologists (P-SASS), or (c) a control condition, Skills for Life (SFL), a nonspecific counseling program. Blind, independent, evaluations were conducted with parents and adolescents at baseline, post-intervention, and 5 months beyond treatment completion. We hypothesized that C-SASS and P-SASS would be superior to the control, immediately after treatment and at follow-up. No prediction was made about the relative efficacy of C-SASS and P-SASS.
RESULTS: Compared to controls, adolescents treated with C-SASS or P-SASS experienced significantly greater improvement and reductions of anxiety at the end of treatment and follow-up. There were no significant differences between SASS delivered by school counselors and psychologists.
CONCLUSION: With training, school counselors are effective treatment providers to adolescents with social anxiety, yielding benefits comparable to those obtained by specialized psychologists. Questions remain regarding means to maintain counselors' practice standards without external support.
Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines, 57(11) : 1229-1238
- Year: 2016
- 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)
, Supportive therapy, Other Psychological Interventions
Bluett, E. J., Landy, L. L., Twohig, M. P., Arch, J. J.
Exposure-based therapy represents a first line treatment for anxiety disorders, but it is often underused. One target for improving client engagement is manipulating the theoretical perspective from which exposure is framed. Ninety-six adults with elevated social anxiety were enrolled in a two-session exposure therapy intervention. Participants were randomized to one of four conditions: (a) fear reduction/cognitive reappraisal, (b) acceptance, (c) personal values, or (d) experimental control. The first three included brief psychoeducation and condition-specific experiential exercises and rationale; all four included in-session speech exposure and between session exposure for homework. Results revealed that compared to the experimental control, the three active conditions reported significantly higher treatment credibility, initial in-vivo exposure engagement, and improvement in social anxiety symptoms. The three active conditions showed few differences among themselves. This study demonstrates that a brief exposure intervention using a credible rationale led to initial engagement in exposure therapy and improvement in social anxiety symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 30(2) : 77-93
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Exposure therapy, Exposure and response prevention, Psychoeducation, Other Psychological Interventions
Alfonso, S. V., Alfonso, L. A., Llabre, M. M., Isabel-Fernandez, M.
Introduction Although there is evidence supporting the use of equine-assisted activities to treat mental disorders, its efficacy in reducing signs and symptoms of social anxiety in young women has not been examined. Method We developed and pilot tested Project Stride, a brief, six-session intervention combining equine-assisted activities and cognitive-behavioral strategies to reduce symptoms of social anxiety. A total of 12 women, 18-29 years of age, were randomly assigned to Project Stride or a no-treatment control. Participants completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale at baseline, immediate-post, and 6 weeks after treatment. Results Project Stride was highly acceptable and feasible. Compared to control participants, those in Project Stride had significantly greater reductions in social anxiety scores from baseline to immediate-post [decrease of 24.8 points; t (9) = 3.40, P =.008)] and from baseline to follow-up [decrease of 31.8 points; t (9) = 4.12, P =.003)]. Conclusion These findings support conducting a full-scale efficacy trial of Project Stride.
Explore, 11(6) : 461-467
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Cognitive & behavioural therapies (CBT)
, Other complementary & alternative interventions
Azadeh, S. M., Kazemi-Zahrani, H., Besharat, M. A.
Social anxiety is a psychological disorder which has devastative and pernicious effects on interpersonal relationships and one's psychological flexibility. The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on interpersonal problems and psychological flexibility in female high school students with social anxiety disorder. With a semi-experimental design, the subjects were assessed using the Social Anxiety Scale and clinical interview. The statistical population of the research was high school female students studying in 5 areas of Isfahan. 30 individuals were purposively selected as the sample. The subjects of the research were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was given in 10 sessions of 90 minutes in the experimental group and the control group did not receive any treatment. Pre-test and post-test scores of Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance & the results showed that after the intervention, there was a significant difference between the scores of the subjects in the experimental and control groups. This means that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can influence interpersonal problems and their six dimensions and psychological flexibility as well.;
Global Journal of Health Science, 8(3) : 131-138
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT)