title: [Psychodynamic group treatment for generalized social phobia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of psychodynamic group therapy in patients with generalized social phobia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were included in a randomized single-blind clinical trial comparing psychodynamic group treatment (PGT) with a credible placebo control group (CPC). PGT was carried out within a 12-session psychodynamically-oriented group psychotherapy. Control patients received a treatment package of lecture-discussion and support group for 12 weeks which was compared to PGT. Each participant completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale(CGI) at pretreatment assessment and after 12 weeks of treatment. Data analysis was carried out using a repeated measures ANOVA. Patients were excluded if they were under any kind of pharmacotherapy or psychotherapic treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups demonstrated significant pretreatment-to-posttreatment change on most measures. On the LSAS, PGT patients were rated as more improved than controls at posttest assessment (F(1,28)=4.84, p=0.036). Baseline data of completers did not show differences between both groups in the demographic variables and outcome variables used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that PGT was [corrected] superior to a credible placebo control group in the treatment of generalized social phobia, in a 12-week randomized single-blind clinical trial.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. knijnikd@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Daniela Zippin
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Knijnik
authors.forename: Flávio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chachamovich
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Margis
authors.forename: Claudio Laks
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Eizirik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome