Open trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of social phobia.
OBJECTIVE
Interpersonal psychotherapy is a time-limited treatment initially developed to treat depression. It has not been studied for the treatment of anxiety disorders.


METHODS
Interpersonal psychotherapy was modified and tested in a 14-week, open trial of nine patients with DSM-IV social phobia.


RESULTS
At termination, seven (78%) were independently rated as much or very much improved on overall social phobia symptoms. Nearly all clinician ratings and self-ratings of social phobia symptoms significantly improved. Changes approximated those of established treatments for social phobia.


CONCLUSIONS
Interpersonal psychotherapy may have efficacy for the treatment of social phobia. Further study in a comparison trial is warranted.
Lipsitz
J D
JD
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, USA.
Markowitz
J C
JC
Cherry
S
S
Fyer
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome