In this study, just published in Journal of Anxiety Disorders, a previously evaluated guided Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for social anxiety disorder was adapted for mobile phone administration. The treatment was compared with a guided self-help treatment based on interpersonal psychotherapy. The treatment platform could be accessed through smartphones, tablet computers, and standard computers. A total of 52 participants were diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and randomized to either cognitive behavior therapy (n = 27) or interpersonal psychotherapy (n = 25). Measures were collected at pre-treatment, during the treatment, post-treatment and 3 month follow-up. On the primary outcome measure, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale–self rated, both groups showed statistically significant improvements. However, cognitive behavior therapy performed significantly better than interpersonal psychotherapy (between group Cohen’s d =0.64 in favor of cognitive behavior therapy). A larger proportion of the cognitive behavior therapy group was classified as responders at post-treatment (55.6% versus 8.0% in the interpersonal psychotherapy group). We conclude that cognitive behavior therapy for social anxiety disorder can be delivered using modern information technology. Interpersonal psychotherapy delivered as a guided self-help treatment may be less effective in this format.
Reference:
Dagöö, J., Persson Asplund, R., Andersson Bsenko, H., Hjerling, S., Holmberg, A., Westh, S., Öberg, L., Ljótsson, B., Carlbring, P., Furmark, T., & Andersson, G. (2014). Cognitive behavior therapy versus interpersonal psychotherapy for social anxiety disorder delivered via smartphone and computer: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28, 410-417.