title: Cognitive-behavioral therapy modifies the naturalistic course of social anxiety disorder: findings from an ABA design study in routine clinical practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While randomized evidence appears to have established efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and some pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAD), their real-world effectiveness has been called into question by long-term naturalistic cohort studies of patients with SAD as they show very low probability of recovery and sustained social dysfunctions despite some drug and psychological therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study examines the effectiveness of group CBT for SAD in real-world settings (n=62) by examining the course of patients' symptomatology and social functions through approximately 6 months on the waiting list, through 6 months receiving the manualized group CBT intervention consisting of 16 2-h sessions, and for 12 months after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found: (i) that the patients with SAD changed little or possibly worsened through the 6 months on the waiting list, although two in three of them were on antidepressants, benzodiazepines or both; (ii) that both their symptomatology and social function improved significantly and substantively through the group CBT; and (iii) that this improvement was maintained through the 3- and 12-month follow ups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We can implement and must disseminate evidence-based, effective CBT for more patients with SAD to lessen their suffering and stop the perpetuation of their symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan. furukawa@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshi A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Funayama
authors.forename: Sei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ietsugu
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Junwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akechi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines