Meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatments for social phobia

A meta-analysis was conducted using 42 treatment-outcome trials for social phobia. Six conditions were compared: Waiting-list control, placebo, EXP (within-session exposure and homework exposure), CT (cognitive restructuring without exposure exercises), CT + EXP, and SST (social skills training). All interventions, including placebo, had larger effect sizes than that of the waiting-list control, and the interventions did not differ in drop-out proportions. Only CT + EXP yielded a significantly larger effect size than placebo. Effects of treatments tended to increase during the follow-up period. These results support the use of cognitive-behavioral treatments for social phobia, especially the use of CT + EXP.