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Efficacy of trial-based cognitive therapy at treatment of social anxiety disorder: a randomized clinical trial

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Author(s):
Kátia Alessandra de Souza Caetano
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Doctoral Thesis
Press: Ribeirão Preto.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Carmem Beatriz Neufeld; Cesar Alexis Galera; Wilson Vieira Melo; Antonio Egidio Nardi; Irismar Reis de Oliveira
Advisor: Carmem Beatriz Neufeld
Abstract

Different randomized clinical trials show that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly effective in the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). However, a large number of patients do not show improvement after receiving CBT. This indicates that it is important to develop new treatments for SAD. Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy (TBCT) is a new approach within the field of CBT area. It aims to help patients to identify and to modify their dysfunctional core beliefs. One of the main TBCT techniques proposed by TBCT is the Trial. Some research studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Trial in the treatment of SAD, and other disorders. However, further investigation is needed to firmly establish the efficacy not just for the Trial technique, but also the TBCT approach as a treatment for SAD and other disorders. This research aims to evaluate wheter SAD participants receiving TBCT individual-sessions differ from a SAD waiting list group condition regarding symptoms of social anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, social avoidance and distress, anxiety, depression, mental suffering, and attentional bias. This is a randomized clinical trial comparing TBCT and a Waitlist control condition for the treatment of SAD. The study has three groups: TBCT (n =18), Wailist (n =21), and healthy group (n =19). An independent researcher to study distributed randomly the participants with SAD between TBCT or Waitlist condition. Assessments were made at pre and post-test using several self-report scales, and the emotional Stroop test in the three groups. Additionaly, the TBCT group answered these scales each four sessions. The treatment was delivered in sixteen 1.5 hour sessions using the individual TBCT format. There were reductions in social anxiety, anxiety, depression, social avoidance and distress, and mental suffering symptoms at TBCT group (p < 0.05), but not in the Waitlist group (p > 0.05). Those reductions were associated with a large effect size. There was a significant reduction at fear of negative evaluation after Trial use, and reductions at cognitive distortions throughout the treatment as well (p < 0.05). There were no differences among the three groups regarding attentional bias at pre-test nor at post-test (p > 0.05). This study suggests that TBCT may be a new effective clinical approach to treat SAD associated with high rates of comorbidity, as there were significant reductions in the comorbid symptoms (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/19263-1 - Evaluation of an intervention program of Trial-Based Therapy in patients with Social Anxiety Disorder.
Grantee:Kátia Alessandra de Souza Caetano
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate