title: Preliminary Investigation of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Social Anxiety Disorder That Integrates Compassion Meditation and Mindful Exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the feasibility and initial efficacy of a 12-week group mindfulness-based intervention tailored for persons with social anxiety disorder (MBI-SAD). The intervention includes elements of the standard mindfulness-based stress reduction program, explicit training in self-compassion aimed at cultivating a more accepting and kinder stance toward oneself, and use of exposure procedures to help participants practice responding mindfully to internal experiences evoked by feared social situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to the MBI-SAD (n = 21) or a waitlist (WL) (n = 18) control group. Feasibility was assessed by the number of participants who completed at least 75% of the 12 weekly group sessions. Primary efficacy outcomes were clinician- and self-rated measures of social anxiety. Other outcomes included clinician ratings of illness severity and self-rated depression, social adjustment, mindfulness, and self-compassion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MBI-SAD was acceptable and feasible, with 81% of participants attending at least 75% of sessions. The MBI-SAD fared better than WL in improving social anxiety symptom severity (p ≤ 0.0001), depression (p ≤ 0.05), and social adjustment (p ≤ 0.05). The intervention also enhanced self-compassion (p ≤ 0.05), and facets of mindfulness (observe and aware; p ≤ .05). MBI-SAD treatment gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings suggest that an MBI that integrates explicit training in self-compassion and mindful exposure is a feasible and promising intervention for social anxiety disorder. The next step is to compare the MBI-SAD to the gold standard of cognitive-behavior therapy to determine equivalence or noninferiority and to explore mediators and moderators of treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .|2 Institut de recherche de l'Hôpital Montfort , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .|3 University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koszycki
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thake
authors.affiliation: 4 Université Laval , Québec, Québec, Canada .
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mavounza
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .|2 Institut de recherche de l'Hôpital Montfort , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Daoust
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .|5 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taljaard
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .|2 Institut de recherche de l'Hôpital Montfort , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .|3 University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada .
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bradwejn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D000072861:Phobia, Social / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult