Social Anxiety Telehealth Therapy Study

Social Anxiety Telehealth Therapy Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially increased the risk of adverse mental health outcomes; while physical distancing is required to reduce infection risk, it also increases loneliness and isolation and prevents access to traditional in-person therapy, which further contribute to risk of adverse mental health outcomes. These problems may be especially acute for individuals with social anxiety disorder (as many as 12% of Americans), however there is a limited evidence-base for telehealth options to directly address social anxiety. This project aims to adapt exposure therapy for social anxiety to a telehealth and physical distancing-compatible intervention, and test whether this effectively decreases loneliness in adults with elevated social anxiety.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18+,
• Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) total score > 50
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Access to the internet via a smartphone or computer with a camera
• Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of mania or psychosis
• Moderate or severe substance use disorder within the past year
• Current psychiatric diagnosis of greater impairment than that arising from social anxiety
• High risk for suicide (>8 on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview suicidality section)
• Prior exposure therapy (more than 2 sessions)
• Current psychotropic medication use
• Current psychotherapy other than couples counseling.