Variations of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

Variations of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of two variants of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (cognitive therapy (CT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)), for the treatment of generalized social anxiety disorder.

We are recruiting a clinical sample of patients who meet diagnostic criteria (per DSM-5) for the generalized subtype of social anxiety disorder. Participants are randomly assigned to the two active intervention conditions; no placebo or sham treatments will be employed. Assessments take place at baseline, pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3- and 12-months follow-up; participants also complete a brief weekly assessment of functioning. Treatment is administered individually by trained graduate students in clinical psychology, directly trained and supervised by the PI and Co-PI. Participants receive 12 weekly 1-hour long sessions. The study design is a 2 (treatment condition) by 5 (assessment occasion) mixed factorial design.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinically diagnosable social anxiety disorder (generalized subtype per DSM-IV-TR criteria)
• aged 18-65
• working fluency in English
• residence in the greater Philadelphia area.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pervasive developmental disability
• acute suicide potential
• inability to travel to the treatment site
• schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder
• current substance dependence
• Comorbid diagnoses of Major Depressive or other mood or anxiety disorders are acceptable ONLY if clearly secondary to the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.