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Empirically supported psychological interventions for social phobia in adults: a qualitative review of randomized controlled trials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2007

K. Ponniah  and
S. D. Hollon
K. Ponniah*
Affiliation:
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York
S. D. Hollon
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr Kathryn Ponniah, Redhill Reigate & Horley Primary Care Mental Health Team, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust, Shaw's Corner, Blackborough Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7DG, UK. (Email: kathrynbetts@hotmail.com)
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Abstract

Background

Social phobia is a chronic disorder that results in substantial impairment. We conducted a qualitative review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological interventions for social phobia.

Method

Articles were identified through searches of electronic databases and manual searches of reference lists. They were classified by psychological interventions evaluated. Data regarding treatment, participants and results were then extracted and tabulated. We identified which psychological interventions are empirically supported, using the scheme proposed by Chambless & Hollon (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1998, 66, 7–18).

Results

Thirty studies evaluating the efficacy of social skills training (SST), exposure therapy and/or cognitive treatments were identified. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), involving cognitive restructuring and exposure to feared and avoided social situations or behavioral experiments, was found to be an efficacious and specific treatment for social phobia. Exposure therapy was found to be an efficacious treatment since most of the evidence of its efficacy was from comparisons with no treatment. There were mixed findings regarding the relative efficacy of CBT and in vivo exposure. Some studies reported that the interventions were equivalent, while others found that patients treated with CBT had a better outcome. There was little evidence to support the use of SST.

Conclusions

CBT is the psychological intervention of choice for social phobia. The findings of this review are compared to those of other major reviews and limitations are discussed.

Type
Invited Review
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , January 2008 , pp. 3 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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