Psychological treatment in social phobia: An experimental study

Studied the efficacy of in vivo exposure and cognitive therapy for the treatment of generalized social phobia. Human Ss: 48 male and female Spanish adults (aged 18–54 yrs) (social phobia). 23 normal male and female Spanish adults (aged 18–54 yrs) (controls). Information on sociodemographic and psychological symptoms was obtained by semistructured interview. Ss were treated with in vivo exposure with or without cognitive restructurization. A self-help anxiety control manual was distributed to about half of the Ss in each treatment group. The results were evaluated according to symptoms of social phobia, associated psychopathological symptoms, personality traits, and treatment group. Tests used: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R), the Stress and Social Phobia Scale (D. Watson and R. Friend, 1969), the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (Watson and Friend, 1969), the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-Revised (P. A. DiNardo and D. H. Barlow, 1988), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventario, the Adaptation Scale (Echeburúa and P. Corral, 1987), the Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), and the Assertiveness Scale (A. Rathus, 1973). An ANOVA and other statistical tests were used.