Treatment of social phobia through pure self-help and therapist-augmented self-help.
BACKGROUND
Self-help for social phobia has not received controlled empirical evaluation.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of pure self-help through written materials for severe social phobia and self-help augmented by five group sessions with a therapist. These conditions were compared with a waiting-list control and standard, therapist-led group therapy.


METHODS
Participants with severe generalised social phobia (n=224) were randomised to one of four conditions. Assessment included diagnoses, symptoms and life interference at pretreatment, 12 weeks and at 24 weeks.


RESULTS
A larger percentage of patients no longer had a diagnosis of social phobia at post-intervention in the pure self-help group than in the waiting-list group, although this percentage decreased slightly over the next 3 months. Symptoms of social anxiety and life interference did not differ significantly between these groups. Augmented self-help was better than waiting list on all measures and did not differ significantly from group treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-help augmented by therapist assistance shows promise as a less resource-intensive method for the management of social phobia. Pure self-help shows limited efficacy for this disorder.
Rapee
Ronald M
RM
Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. Ron.Rapee@mq.edu.au
Abbott
Maree J
MJ
Baillie
Andrew J
AJ
Gaston
Jonathan E
JE
D000328:Adult; D001638:Bibliotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care; D012792:Shyness; D016896:Treatment Outcome