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Effectiveness of Group Cognitive Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder in Routine Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2020

Helen Colhoun ,
Lee Kannis-Dymand Open the ORCID record for Lee Kannis-Dymand [Opens in a new window] ,
Marion Rudge ,
Dianne Le Compte ,
Sarah J. O'Flaherty ,
Claire Gilbert ,
Monique Jones ,
Sarah-Eve Harrow ,
Ron Chambers  and
Colette Woolcock
...Show all authors
Helen Colhoun
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Lee Kannis-Dymand*
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia University of the Sunshine Coast, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Queensland, Australia
Marion Rudge
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Dianne Le Compte
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Sarah J. O'Flaherty
Affiliation:
University of the Sunshine Coast, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Queensland, Australia
Claire Gilbert
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Monique Jones
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Sarah-Eve Harrow
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ron Chambers
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Colette Woolcock
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Juliet Macleod
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorders Service, CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
Geoff P Lovell
Affiliation:
University of the Sunshine Coast, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Queensland, Australia Department of Sport, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire, UK
Caroline Bell
Affiliation:
Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author: Lee Kannis-Dymand, University of the Sunshine Coast, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, QLD4557, Australia. Email: lkannisd@usc.edu.au
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Abstract

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent chronic condition with a large demand for treatment. This community outpatient study examined the effectiveness of a group intervention version of the established one-to-one cognitive therapy derived from the Clark and Wells model for SAD. Questionnaires were completed pre-treatment and post-treatment for SAD symptoms (Social Phobia Scale, Social Interaction Anxiety Scale), depressive symptoms (BDI-II), self-focused attention, safety behaviours (Social Phobia Weekly Summary Scale and Subtle Avoidance Frequency Examination), and impaired functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale). From an initial sample of 159 participants, 101 completed at least seven of the nine weekly group sessions (Mage = 34.1 years, SDage = 10.8 years, 53% female). Significant improvements were demonstrated on all measures. Large effect sizes were found for social anxiety symptoms and safety behaviour use. Self-focused attention, depressive symptoms, and impaired functioning had moderate effect sizes. Effect sizes for anxiety (d = 1.00 and 1.32) and mood measures (d = 0.71) were as high, or in some cases, higher than previous group treatment studies. Results suggest group cognitive therapy for SAD based on the Clark and Wells model is effective in a clinical setting for individuals with moderate/severe and treatment-resistant social anxiety.

Keywords

social anxiety disordergroup cognitive therapycognitive behaviour therapy
Type
Standard Paper
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , June 2021 , pp. 60 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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