Shyness 1: Distance treatment of social phobia over the Internet

Titov, Nickolai, Andrews, Gavin, Schwencke, Genevieve, Drobny, Juliette and Einstein, Danielle (2008) Shyness 1: Distance treatment of social phobia over the Internet. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42 (7), 585-594. (doi:10.1080/00048670802119762).

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of an Internet-based clinician-assisted computerized cognitive behavioural therapy programme for social phobia.
Method: A total of 105 individuals with social phobia were randomly assigned to a six-lesson cognitive behavioural treatment programme or to a waitlist control group. Treatment consisted of four components: six online lessons; homework assignments; participation in an online discussion forum; and regular email contact with a therapist. An intention-to-treat model was used for data analyses.
Results: A total of 78% of treatment group participants completed all lessons, and post-treatment data were obtained from 93/105 participants. Significant post-treatment differences between treatment and waitlist participants were found on two measures of symptoms of social phobia. Mean within- and between-group effect sizes (Cohen's d) for the primary social phobia outcome measures were 1.15, and 0.95, respectively.
Conclusions: These results were comparable with those obtained in exemplary face-to-face treatment programmes. They provide further positive data about the utility of Internet-based guided self-help programmes for people with common mental disorders.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Download statistics