title: Imagery-enhanced cognitive behavioural group therapy for social anxiety disorder: a pilot study.
abstract: Cognitive behavioural group therapy (CBGT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) is efficacious and effective, however a substantial proportion of patients remain in the clinical range so treatment innovations are required. Research suggests that working within the imagery mode may be more emotionally potent than traditional verbal-linguistic strategies. This study piloted an imagery-enhanced CBGT (IE-CBGT) protocol for SAD. It was hypothesised that IE-CBGT would be acceptable to patients, demonstrate large effect sizes, and compare favourably to historical controls who completed CBGT without the imagery-enhancements. Patients (N=19) were consecutive referrals to a community clinic specialising in anxiety and mood disorders. Primary outcomes were self-reported performance and social interaction anxiety. IE-CBGT was highly acceptable to patients with high attendance and completion rates. Effect sizes were large by mid-treatment and very large at post-treatment and follow-up. A high proportion of patients achieved reliable change. Outcomes compared favourably to published group and individual treatments for SAD but larger randomised controlled trials are now required.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Interventions, Perth, Australia; School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: peter.mcevoy@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Interventions, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Saulsman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019985:Benchmarking; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Benchmarking; Cognitive behaviour therapy; Effectiveness; Imagery; Social anxiety disorder