Sudden Gains in Internet Therapy for Social Anxiety
Author Information
Author(s): Yim See Heng, Clark David M., Salkovskis Paul M., Thew Graham R.
Primary Institution: University of Oxford
Hypothesis
This study aimed to assess whether sudden gains were associated with better therapy outcomes in internet cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder.
Conclusion
Approximately 2 in 5 patients experienced a sudden gain while accessing the iCT-SAD intervention, which was associated with better clinical outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- Seventy sudden gains were found among 57 participants.
- The occurrence rate of sudden gains was 39%.
- Individuals who experienced sudden gains had a larger reduction in social anxiety symptoms at end of intervention.
- There was evidence of a reduction in the frequency of negative social cognitions prior to the gain.
Takeaway
About 40% of people using online therapy for social anxiety felt much better after just a few sessions, which helped them feel less anxious overall.
Methodology
The study used linear mixed effects models to analyze data from 146 patients who received internet cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder.
Potential Biases
The therapists had less experience delivering the intervention, which may have influenced the results.
Limitations
There was no control group, and the measure of self-focused attention was a one-item measure.
Participant Demographics
{"gender":{"female":70,"male":60,"non-binary":2,"not stated":14},"age":{"mean":28.33,"range":"18-56"},"ethnicity":{"white":103,"mixed-race":15,"indian":1,"chinese":1,"other_asian":2,"caribbean":2,"african":1,"other_black":2,"other":3,"not stated":16}}
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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