title: Social phobia treated as a problem in social functioning: a controlled comparison of two behavioural group approaches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatments for social phobia result typically in significant anxiety and avoidance reduction; the repercussions in terms of social functioning, however, are not clear. This controlled study compared two approaches designed to improve the social functioning of social phobics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight socially phobic patients were randomly assigned to two treatments focused on improving interpersonal relationships either with or without social skills training or a waiting list; 60 completed treatment and 59 a 1-year follow-up. Treatment was administered in small groups, 14 sessions altogether.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No clinically meaningful change was observed during the waiting period. A statistically significant and equivalent improvement obtained in both treatment conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both treatments resulted in reduced anxiety, avoidance, general psychopathology and better social functioning that maintained over follow-up. Continuing improvement in remission rates was noted; fully 60% of the patients no longer fulfilled criteria for social phobia at the end of 1-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stravynski
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arbel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bounader
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaudette
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lachance
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borgeat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fabian
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lamontagne
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sidoun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Todorov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012951:Socialization; D016896:Treatment Outcome