Background:

Considering the need for developing and examining evidenced-based programs using a brief group format for management of social anxiety disorder (SAD) at the community level, we studied theefficacy of two brief versions of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) programs, brief cognitive-behavioral group therapy (bCBGT), and verbal exposure augmented cognitive behavioral therapy (VE-CBT), on social anxiety among university students.

Methods:

A single-center, randomized, parallel-group design was adopted. We delivered six weekly two-hour group sessions, bCBGT and VE-CBT, to 41 university students diagnosed with SAD. An independent rater assessed participants using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and Clinical Global Impression scale-Severity (CGI-S) at baseline, postintervention, and two-month follow-up. A patient-rated measure, Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), was assessed at the same time-points.

Results:

There was a significant improvement in severity of social anxiety from baseline to posttreatment and baseline to two-month follow-up in both groups. However, the treatment effects in bCBGT were statistically superior to VE-CBT at postintervention (SPIN, P = 0.038; LSAS, P = 0.028; CGI-S, P = 0.036) and follow-up (SPIN, P = 0.006; LSAS, P = 0.01; CGI-S, P = 0.04).

Conclusions:

Brief CBT treatments, both bCBGT and VE-CBT, are efficacious for SAD among university students. They have the potential to address barriers associated with SAD management. However, we recommend a longer follow-up and replications in diverse settings.

Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2019/11/021954

中文翻译：

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大学生社交焦虑障碍的简短认知行为团体治疗和言语暴露增强认知行为治疗：随机对照可行性试验

背景：

考虑到需要在社区层面使用简短的小组形式来开发和检查基于证据的计划以管理社交焦虑症 (SAD)，我们研究了两个简短版本的认知行为疗法 (CBT) 计划的功效，简短的认知-行为团体疗法 (bCBGT) 和言语暴露增强认知行为疗法 (VE-CBT) 对大学生社交焦虑的影响。

方法：

采用单中心、随机、平行组设计。我们为 41 名被诊断患有 SAD 的大学生提供了六次每周两小时的小组会议 bCBGT 和 VE-CBT。一名独立评估者在基线、干预后和两个月的随访中使用 Liebowitz 社交焦虑量表 (LSAS) 和临床总体印象量表 - 严重程度 (CGI-S) 评估参与者。在相同的时间点评估了一项由患者评定的措施，即社交恐惧症量表 (SPIN)。

结果：

从基线到治疗后以及从基线到两个月的随访，两组的社交焦虑严重程度都有显着改善。然而，bCBGT 的治疗效果在干预后（SPIN，P = 0.038；LSAS，P = 0.028；CGI-S，P = 0.036）和随访（SPIN，P = 0.006；LSAS， P = 0.01；CGI-S，P = 0.04）。

结论：

bCBGT 和 VE-CBT 的简短 CBT 治疗对大学生的 SAD 有效。它们有可能解决与 SAD 管理相关的障碍。但是，我们建议在不同的环境中进行更长时间的跟进和复制。

临床试验注册号：CTRI/2019/11/021954