An Internet-based self-help treatment for fear of public speaking: a controlled trial.
This study offers data about the efficacy of "Talk to Me," an Internet-based telepsychology program for the treatment of fear of public speaking that includes the most active components in cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) for social phobia (exposure and cognitive therapies). One hundred twenty-seven participants with social phobia were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: (a) an Internet-based self-administered program; (b) the same program applied by a therapist; (c) a waiting-list control group. Results showed that both treatment conditions were equally efficacious. In addition, Talk to Me and the same treatment applied by a therapist were more efficacious than the waiting-list condition. Treatment gains were maintained at 1-year follow-up. The results from this study support the utility of Internet-delivered CBT programs in order to reach a higher number of people who could benefit from CBT. Internet-delivered CBT programs could also play a valuable role in the dissemination of CBT.
Botella
C
C
Dpt. Psicologia Basica, Clinica y Psicobiologia, Universitat Jaume I, Avda Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, Castellon,Spain.
Gallego
M J
MJ
Garcia-Palacios
A
A
Guillen
V
V
Baños
R M
RM
Quero
S
S
Alcañiz
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012919:Social Behavior; D013060:Speech; D017216:Telemedicine; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult