Attention Training and Cognitive Therapy

Comparison of Attention Training and Cognitive Therapy in the Treatment of Social Phobia: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and process of change that occurs in Attention Training in comparison to an established treatment for social phobia, Cognitive Therapy. A randomized trial was conducted in which participants were allocated to either six weeks of Attention Training or Cognitive Therapy. It was hypothesized that both treatments would be effective in reducing social phobia symptoms, but that Attention Training would work primarily by reducing levels of self focused attention, while Cognitive Therapy would work through changes to probability and threat appraisals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age,
• be fluent in English
• have a primary concern of social anxiety that met DSM-IV criteria (APA, 2000) for social phobia. Both subtypes of social phobia, specific and generalized, were accepted into the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• the presence of comorbid condition(s) that were more severe than the presenting social phobia