Transdiagnostic versus disorder-specific and clinician-guided versus self-guided internet-delivered treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder and comorbid disorders: A randomized controlled trial

B F Dear; L G Staples; M D Terides; V J Fogliati; J Sheehan; L Johnston; R Kayrouz; R Dear; P M McEvoy; N Titov

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.05.004

Transdiagnostic versus disorder-specific and clinician-guided versus self-guided internet-delivered treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder and comorbid disorders: A randomized controlled trial

J Anxiety Disord. 2016 Aug:42:30-44. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.05.004. Epub 2016 May 18.

Authors

B F Dear¹, L G Staples¹, M D Terides¹, V J Fogliati¹, J Sheehan¹, L Johnston¹, R Kayrouz¹, R Dear¹, P M McEvoy², N Titov³

Affiliations

¹ eCentreClinic, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
² School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Australia.
³ eCentreClinic, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 27261562
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.05.004

Abstract

Disorder-specific (DS-CBT) and transdiagnostic (TD-CBT) cognitive behaviour therapy have both been used to treat social anxiety disorder (SAD). This study compared internet-delivered DS-CBT and TD-CBT for SAD across clinician-guided (CG-CBT) and self-guided (SG-CBT) formats. Participants with SAD (n=233) were randomly allocated to receive internet-delivered TD-CBT or DS-CBT and CG-CBT or SG-CBT. Large reductions in symptoms of SAD (Cohen's d≥1.01; avg. reduction≥30%) and moderate-to-large reductions in symptoms of comorbid depression (Cohen's d≥1.25; avg. reduction≥39%), generalised anxiety disorder (Cohen's d≥0.86; avg. reduction≥36%) and panic disorder (Cohen's d≥0.53; avg. reduction≥25%) were found immediately post-treatment and were maintained or further improved to 24-month follow-up. No marked differences were observed between TD-CBT and DS-CBT or CG-CBT and SG-CBT highlighting the potential of each for the treatment of SAD and comorbid disorders.

Keywords: 24-month follow-up; Anxiety disorders; CBT; Depression; Disorder-specific; Internet; Randomized controlled trial; Self-guided; Social anxiety disorder; Therapist-guided; Transdiagnostic; Treatment.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety Disorders / complications
Anxiety Disorders / psychology
Anxiety Disorders / therapy*
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
Depressive Disorder / complications
Depressive Disorder / psychology
Depressive Disorder / therapy*
Female
Humans
Internet*
Male
Middle Aged
Phobia, Social / complications
Phobia, Social / psychology
Phobia, Social / therapy*
Self Care / methods*
Therapy, Computer-Assisted*
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult