title: Evaluation of a DVD-based self-help program in highly socially anxious individuals--pilot study.
abstract: High social anxiety is a risk factor for the incidence of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Early diagnosis and intervention may prevent more severe psychiatric courses. Self-help programs may be a convenient, accessible, and effective intervention. This study examined the efficacy of a newly developed self-help program for SAD in individuals with subthreshold social anxiety. A total of 24 highly socially anxious individuals were randomly assigned to a DVD-based self-help program or to a wait-list control group. The self-help program is based on the cognitive model according to Clark and Wells (1995; adapted to German by Stangier, Clark, & Ehlers, 2006) and comprises eight sessions. ANOVAs based on an intention-to-treat model were used for data analyses. The self-help program was well accepted; just one person withdrew during the intervention. There were significant Time× Group interactions on all primary outcome measures. For the intervention group moderate to high within-groups effect sizes up to Cohen's d = 1.05 were obtained. Between-groups effect sizes ranged from 0.24 to 0.65 in favor of the active intervention. The newly developed DVD-based self-help program seems to be a promising intervention for highly socially anxious individuals as it reduces social anxiety symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany. anna.mall@zi-mannheim.de
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mall
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehl
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiko
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kleindienst
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Salize
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bohus
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012919:Social Behavior; D014742:Videodisc Recording; D014850:Waiting Lists