Intensive cognitive-behavioral group treatment (CBGT) of social phobia: a randomized controlled study.

The effects of intensive cognitive-behavioral group treatment (CBGT) for social phobia (DSM-IV) were studied in 26 patients randomly assigned either to a treatment group (TG) or to a 6-month waiting list control group (WG). Treatment involved 2 weeks of daily treatment sessions separated by 1 week of homework assignments. TG was superior to WG at all assessment points, i.e., at 3 weeks and at 3 and 6 months of post-treatment. After 6 months, significant treatment effects were found in the majority of social phobia measures indicating decreased levels of social anxiety and avoidance, safety-behaviors and symptoms influence on daily life. The WG received treatment following the waiting list period and was combined with the TG in order to evaluate the outcome in a larger sample. Treatment gains at 3 weeks were maintained or improved at 1-year follow-up. Average effect sizes of social phobia measures ranged from 0.56 at post-treatment, 0.68 at 3 months and 0.81 at 6 months and 1 year, respectively.