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Improving adherence to a web-based cognitive-behavioural therapy program for social anxiety with group sessions: A
Signý Sigurðardóttir1, Fjóla Dögg Helgadóttir2, Rachel E Menzies3
1Reykjavík University, Iceland.
Internet Interventions
|April 18, 2022
Summary
Adding group progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) sessions to web-based cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) improved treatment adherence for social anxiety disorder (SAD). While efficacy was similar across groups, PMR enhanced engagement with online SAD interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Social anxiety disorder (SAD) often treated with non-evidence-based methods.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for SAD.
- Web-based CBT offers scalability but struggles with low treatment adherence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if adding group sessions to a web-based CBT program (Overcome Social Anxiety - OSA) increases treatment adherence.
- To compare the impact of online psychoeducation versus progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) group sessions on adherence.
- To evaluate the efficacy of these interventions on social anxiety and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- 69 participants with SAD were randomly assigned to three groups: online psychoeducation, online PMR, or no group sessions.
- Participants accessed a web-based CBT program (OSA).
- Adherence was measured by the number of OSA modules completed; efficacy was assessed using SIAS, BFNE, and QOLS.
Main Results:
- Treatment adherence significantly differed between groups.
- Participants in the PMR group showed significantly higher adherence than the control group.
- All groups demonstrated significant improvements in BFNE and QOLS, with no significant differences in treatment efficacy across groups.
Conclusions:
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) group sessions can enhance treatment adherence in scalable web-based interventions for social anxiety disorder.
- While PMR improved adherence, it did not significantly alter overall treatment efficacy compared to other conditions.
- Findings suggest integrating adjunctive group sessions like PMR may be beneficial for engagement in digital mental health treatments.
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