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Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
Published on: February 25, 2011
Social phobia treated as a problem in social functioning: a controlled comparison of two behavioural group approaches
A Stravynski1, N Arbel, J Bounader
1Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Canada.
Objective:
Treatments for social phobia result typically in significant anxiety and avoidance reduction; the repercussions in terms of social functioning, however, are not clear. This controlled study compared two approaches designed to improve the social functioning of social phobics.
Method:
Sixty-eight socially phobic patients were randomly assigned to two treatments focused on improving interpersonal relationships either with or without social skills training or a waiting list; 60 completed treatment and 59 a 1-year follow-up. Treatment was administered in small groups, 14 sessions altogether.
Results:
No clinically meaningful change was observed during the waiting period. A statistically significant and equivalent improvement obtained in both treatment conditions.
Conclusion:
Both treatments resulted in reduced anxiety, avoidance, general psychopathology and better social functioning that maintained over follow-up. Continuing improvement in remission rates was noted; fully 60% of the patients no longer fulfilled criteria for social phobia at the end of 1-year follow-up.
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