Brief Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy and Verbal-Exposure-Augmented Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder in University Students: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial. Issue 6 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Preeti; Samantaray, Narendra Nath
• Is Part Of: Indian journal of psychological medicine. Volume 44:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 552
• Page End: 557
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Social anxiety disorder -- cognitive-behavioral group therapy -- brief CBT -- randomized controlled trial -- university students; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1177/02537176211026250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0253-7176

Abstract

Background: Considering the need for developing and examining evidenced-based programs using a brief group format for management of social anxiety disorder (SAD) at the community level, we studied the efficacy of two brief versions of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) programs, brief cognitive-behavioral group therapy (bCBGT), and verbal exposure augmented cognitive behavioral therapy (VE-CBT), on social anxiety among university students. Methods: A single-center, randomized, parallel-group design was adopted. We delivered six weekly two-hour group sessions, bCBGT and VE-CBT, to 41 university students diagnosed with SAD. An independent rater assessed participants using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and Clinical Global Impression scale-Severity (CGI-S) at baseline, postintervention, and two-month follow-up. A patient-rated measure, Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), was assessed at the same time-points. Results: There was a significant improvement in severity of social anxiety from baseline to posttreatment and baseline to two-month follow-up in both groups. However, the treatment effects in bCBGT were statistically superior to VE-CBT at postintervention (SPIN, P = 0.038; LSAS, P = 0.028; CGI-S, P = 0.036) and follow-up (SPIN, P = 0.006; LSAS, P = 0.01; CGI-S, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Brief CBT treatments, both bCBGT and VE-CBT, are efficacious for SAD among university students. They have the potential to address barriers associated with SAD management. However, we recommend a longer follow-up and replications in diverse settings. Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2019/11/021954