Shyness 1: distance treatment of social phobia over the Internet.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of an Internet-based clinician-assisted computerized cognitive behavioural therapy programme for social phobia.


METHODS
A total of 105 individuals with social phobia were randomly assigned to a six-lesson cognitive behavioural treatment programme or to a waitlist control group. Treatment consisted of four components: six online lessons; homework assignments; participation in an online discussion forum; and regular email contact with a therapist. An intention-to-treat model was used for data analyses.


RESULTS
A total of 78% of treatment group participants completed all lessons, and post-treatment data were obtained from 93/105 participants. Significant post-treatment differences between treatment and waitlist participants were found on two measures of symptoms of social phobia. Mean within- and between-group effect sizes (Cohen's d) for the primary social phobia outcome measures were 1.15, and 0.95, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results were comparable with those obtained in exemplary face-to-face treatment programmes. They provide further positive data about the utility of Internet-based guided self-help programmes for people with common mental disorders.
Titov
Nickolai
N
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. nickt@unsw.edu.au
Andrews
Gavin
G
Schwencke
Genevieve
G
Drobny
Juliette
J
Einstein
Danielle
D
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012792:Shyness