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Cognitive behavior therapy versus supportive therapy in social phobia: a randomized controlled trial
J Cottraux1, I Note, E Albuisson
1Anxiety Disorder Unit, University Lyon I, Lyon, France. cottraux@univ-lyon1.fr
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
|April 25, 2000
Summary
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) proved more effective than supportive therapy (ST) for social phobia, showing sustained long-term benefits. This suggests that managing social phobia requires more intensive psychological interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Social phobia is a prevalent mental health condition.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating social phobia.
- A direct comparison between CBT and supportive therapy (ST) for social phobia is lacking in existing literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of CBT versus ST in patients diagnosed with social phobia.
- To evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes of both treatment modalities.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 67 patients with DSM-4 social phobia.
- Group 1 received 6 weeks of individual cognitive therapy followed by group social skills training.
- Group 2 received 12 weeks of ST, followed by CBT.
Main Results:
- CBT demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to ST on primary social phobia measures at week 6 and week 12.
- A significantly higher response rate was observed in the CBT group.
- Sustained improvements were noted in both groups at long-term follow-up, with benefits replicated after switching the ST group to CBT.
Conclusions:
- CBT is a more effective treatment for social phobia than ST, yielding lasting positive effects.
- Effective management of social phobia may necessitate interventions beyond simple or low-cost psychological approaches.