Internet videoconferencing delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disoder: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) presents significant challenges due to treatment barriers, often leading to chronic conditions.
• Established face-to-face therapies like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Imagery Rescripting (ImR) show efficacy for SAD.
• The effectiveness of remote delivery for these SAD treatments remains largely unexamined in controlled trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of videoconferencing-delivered CBT (vCBT) compared to a waitlist control for social anxiety disorder.
• To compare the efficacy of remote vCBT and Imagery Rescripting (vImR) interventions for SAD.
• To inform best practices for remote psychological interventions for SAD.

Main Methods:

• A two-group randomized controlled trial involving 78 adults diagnosed with moderate to severe SAD.
• Manualized, high-intensity vCBT delivered weekly over 8 weeks via videoconferencing.
• Waitlist participants receive subsequent 8-week videoconferencing-delivered Imagery Rescripting (vImR).

Main Results:

• Outcome measures assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up.
• The trial will report on the efficacy of synchronous remote vCBT and vImR interventions.
• Results will benchmark remote treatments against traditional face-to-face CBT.

Conclusions:

• This trial will provide crucial data on the effectiveness of remote, high-intensity psychological interventions for SAD.
• Findings have the potential to shape the future of accessible and effective online mental healthcare for social anxiety.
• The study aims to establish evidence-based guidelines for remote SAD treatment delivery.