Internet-Based Interventions for Social Anxiety Disorder - an Overview

Abstract

Internet-based interventions hold specific advantages and disadvantages in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The present review examines different approaches in the internet-based treatment of SAD and reviews their efficacy and effectiveness. 21 studies investigated the potential of guided and unguided internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatments (ICBT) for SAD, comprising a total of N = 1,801 socially anxious individuals. The large majority of these trials reported substantial reductions of social anxiety symptoms through ICBT programs. Within effect sizes were mostly large and comparisons to waitlist and more active control groups were positive. Treatment gains were stable from 3 months to 5 years after treatment termination. In conclusion, ICBT is effective in the reduction of social anxiety symptoms. At the same time, not all participants benefit from these treatments to a sufficient degree. Future research should focus on what makes these interventions work in which patient populations, and at the same time, examine ways to implement internet-based treatment in the routine care for socially anxious patients.

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety with and without Guidance Compared to a Wait List in China: A Propensity Score Study

“…Although there is a wealth of studies that show the efficacy and effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) in Western countries, there is a considerable lack of studies that investigate the efficacy of such treatments in non-Western countries [2]. So far, several studies have evaluated the efficacy of ICBT for SAD in controlled trials in Western countries with promising results [3]. An important discussion in the field is about the degree of support and guidance needed during Internet-based self-help treatments [4].…”

Predictors of Treatment Outcomes and Adherence in Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety in China (Preprint)

“…In the last decade, Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) for SAD, which is a highly promising approach to increasing accessibility and availability to treatment, has been developed and validated in Western countries [9][10][11] as well as in China [12]. SAD is one of the disorders for which ICBT has the strongest empirical support [13,14]. However, a substantial proportion of patients do not achieve clinically significant improvement.…”

“…However, a substantial proportion of patients do not achieve clinically significant improvement. In studies on ICBT for SAD, clinically significant change rates range between 40-60%, which means approximately half of the participants did not achieve significant improvements [14]. The few studies on predictors of treatment outcomes in ICBT for SAD yielded inconsistent findings [13].…”

Daydreamer and Night Owl: Comparing Positive and Negative Outcome Cases in an Online, Clinician-Guided, Self-Help Intervention for Social Anxiety Disorder

“…Research consistently suggests that web-based interventions for SAD can significantly improve social anxiety symptoms (Boettcher, Carlbring, et al, 2013). Trials directly comparing ICBT with face-to-face therapy have revealed that both treatment conditions made large and similar improvements (e.g.…”