Pilot study of community-based cognitive behavioral group therapy for adolescents with social phobia

A pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral group therapy program for adolescents with social phobia, simplified both in terms of time and labor intensity from a previously studied program (Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children and Adolescents) to be more appropriate for a community outpatient psychiatric setting.

Twelve adolescents with social phobia (ages 13-18), diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria and confirmed with Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children assessment, were randomly assigned to treatment (n=6) and waitlist (n=6) groups. The waitlist group was subsequently treated, and results were included in the data analysis. Assessments, including Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children interviews and self-report Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory II questionnaires, were performed at baseline and immediately after treatment or waitlist.

All subjects completed the treatment program. Compared with the waitlist group, treated subjects showed significantly greater improvement in both examiner-evaluated (Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children) and self-reported (Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory) symptoms of social anxiety (effect sizes [d], 1.63 and 0.85, respectively). No significant change was seen in Beck Depression Inventory II scores for treatment or waitlist groups.

This study provides support for the use of simplified cognitive-behavioral interventions for adolescents with social phobia that are practical for community psychiatric settings.