Effect of Comorbid Depression on Cognitive Behavioural Group Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-64
Author(s):  
Joelle LeMoult ◽  
Karen Rowa ◽  
Martin M. Antony ◽  
Susan Chudzik ◽  
Randi E. McCabe
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Group Therapy ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Comorbid Depression ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Comorbid Depressive Disorder

AbstractMany individuals seeking treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD) also meet criteria for a comorbid depressive disorder. Little is known, however, about how a comorbid depressive disorder affects social anxiety treatment. This study examined 61 participants with SAD and 72 with SAD and a comorbid depressive disorder (SAD+D) before and after 12 weeks of cognitive behavioural group therapy (CBGT) for social anxiety. Although patients with SAD+D reported more severe symptoms of social anxiety and depression at pretreatment, treatment was similarly effective for individuals with SAD and SAD+D. However, individuals with SAD+D continued to report higher symptom severity at post-treatment. Interestingly, CBGT for social anxiety also led to improvements in depressive symptoms despite the fact that depression was not targeted during treatment. Improvement in social anxiety symptoms predicted 26.8% of the variance in improvement in depressive symptoms. Results suggest that depressive symptoms need not be in remission for individuals to benefit from CBGT for social anxiety. However, more than 12 sessions of CBGT may be beneficial for individuals with comorbid depression.

Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural group therapy for social anxiety disorder: long-term benefits and aftercare

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 501-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciara Fogarty ◽  
David Hevey ◽  
Odhrán McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Group Therapy ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackground:Empirical research demonstrates the short- to medium-term efficacy and effectiveness of cognitive behavioural group therapy (CBGT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD). Little is known about the durability of gains beyond 1 year following treatment in real-life clinical settings. Literature regarding the impact of aftercare programs as an adjunct to CBGT treatment on SAD is scarce.Aims:To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of CBGT for SAD in a community sample and to explore the relationship between long-term treatment outcomes and aftercare support group attendance.Method:A longitudinal cohort design evaluated changes in standardized psychological measures assessing aspects of SAD, anxiety and depression. Questionnaires were completed before the program (time 1, N = 457), after the program (time 2, n = 369) and at an average of 4.6 years follow-up (time 3, n = 138).Results:Large treatment effect sizes at post-intervention were maintained at long-term follow-up on measures of SAD, anxiety and depression. There was no statistically significant relationship between frequency of attendance at an aftercare support group and degree of improvement from post-treatment severity on any measure.Conclusions:CBGT is an effective intervention in the long-term in a routine clinical setting and should be considered a viable treatment option for SAD. Recommendations for future research, treatment implications and study limitations are considered.

scholarly journals A pilot study of clonazepam versus psychodynamic group therapy plus clonazepam in the treatment of generalized social anxiety disorder

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 567-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Z. Knijnik ◽  
Carlos Blanco ◽  
Giovanni Abrahão Salum ◽  
Carolina U. Moraes ◽  
Clarissa Mombach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Group Therapy ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Functioning ◽  
Psychodynamic Group Therapy ◽  
Efficacy Measures ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractBackgroundBoth psychodynamic group therapy (PGT) and clonazepam are used as treatment strategies in reducing symptoms of generalized social anxiety disorder (GSAD). However, many individuals remain symptomatic after treatment with PGT or clonazepam.MethodFifty-eight adult outpatients with a diagnosis of GSAD according to DSM-IV were randomized to 12 weeks PGT plus clonazepam or clonazepam. The Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scale was the primary efficacy measure. Secondary efficacy measures included the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) total score, the World Health Organization Instrument to Assess Quality of Life—Brief (WHOQOL-Bref) Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).ResultsCGI-I data from 57 patients (intent-to-treat population) showed that patients who received PGT plus clonazepam presented significantly greater improvement than those who received clonazepam (P = 0.033). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the secondary efficacy measures.ConclusionsOur study suggests that the combination of PGT with clonazepam may be a promising strategy for the treatment of GSAD, regarding gains in the global functioning. However the present study failed to detect more specific changes in social anxiety symptomatology between the two groups.

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