Self-help cognitive–behavioral therapy with minimal therapist contact for social phobia: A controlled trial
Abstract
Due to treatment accessibility and cost issues, interest in self-help programs (e.g., bibliotherapy, telehealth) for common psychological disorders is growing. Research supporting the efficacy of such a program for social anxiety, however, is limited. The present study examined the efficacy of an 8-week self-directed cognitive behavioral treatment with minimal therapist involvement for social phobia based on a widely available self-help book. Twenty-one adults with social phobia initially received either treatment (i.e. assigned readings in the workbook with limited therapist contact) or were wait-listed. Wait-listed patients eventually received the same self-directed treatment. Results revealed that the self-help/minimal therapist contact treatment was superior to wait-list on most outcome measures. Across the entire sample, reductions in social anxiety, global severity, general anxiety, and depression were observed at posttest and 3-month follow-up. These findings provide preliminary support for using this self-help workbook for individuals with mild to moderate social anxiety in conjunction with infrequent therapist visits to reinforce the treatment principles. Study limitations and future directions are discussed.
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Therapeutic education modules based on guides and self-help books have shown positive results compared with classical CBT programs and control groups.
“Given that many patients do not have any access to stress and anxiety management programs, therapeutic education modules based on guides and self-help books have been offered and have shown positive results compared with classical CBT programs and control groups [18,19].”
From Efficacy of Seren@ctif, a computer-based stress management program for patients with adjustment disorder with anxiety: Protocol for a controlled trial (2017) · cites this paper as [19]
Both the ACT and tCBT self-help books have been shown to be superior to waitlist in prior trials.
“both books have been shown to be superior to waitlist in prior trials (Abramowitz et al., 2009; Kocovski et al., 2019)”
From A Randomized Trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Traditional Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Self-Help Books for Social Anxiety (2020) · cites this paper as Abramowitz et al., 2009
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“shown positive results compared with classical CBT programs and control groups [18,19].”
- Authors
- Abramowitz, J. S., Moore, E. L., Braddock, A. E., & Harrington, D. L.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Mayo Clinic (US)
- Corresponding author
- Abramowitz, Jonathan S.
- Venue
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 98-105
- ISSN
- 0005-7916 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2008322953
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Mayo Clinic
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- social anxiety disorder, social anxiety, self-help, cognitive behavioral therapy, self-directed treatment, bibliotherapy, self-help workbook, treatment accessibility, waitlist control
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Books, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Phobic Disorders, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychotherapy, Group, Self-Help Groups, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Young Adult
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