Holly Exeter

1
Social Phobia A Comparative Treatment Outcome
Study
Can we tailor Social Phobia treatment to
particular clients?
A preliminary analysis found that fear of
negative evaluation and shyness were independent
predictors of future social anxiety. Subsequently,
we investigated whether 1. Clients high in
fear of negative evaluation will do better with a
treatment that matches this characteristic
(e.g. Cognitive Restructuring)? 2. Clients high
in shyness will do better with a treatment that
matches this characteristic (e.g. Social Skills
Training)?
Method
52 clients with Social Phobia (Mean age 35 41
female) completed pre, mid and post measures the
Social Anxiety and Distress Scale (SAD) and the
Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE) and the
Shyness subscale of the Shyness and Sociability
Scale. Treatment consisted of 8 x 2-hour weekly
sessions of either Cognitive Restructuring or
Social Skills Training. Clients were randomly
allocated to treatment option.
Results
Pre Mid Post
Pre Mid Post
Pre Mid Post

• Social Skills Training and Cognitive
  Restructuring were both effective
• Social Skills Training was more effective than
  Cognitive Restructuring

• No differential improvement following Cognitive
  Restructuring between individuals low or high on
  FNE at assessment.

• No differential improvement following Social
  Skills Training by individuals low or high on
  Shyness at assessment.

Conclusions

• Both treatments were effective at reducing
  symptoms.
• Social Skills Training facilitated a greater
  improvement than Cognitive Restructuring.
• No benefit of treatment matching, based on
  shyness or fear of negative evaluation.

References
Holly Exeter Andrew Page Department of
Psychology The University of Western
Australia Contact holly_at_psy.uwa.edu.au
Cheek, J.M., Buss, A.H. (1981). Shyness and
Sociability. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 41, 330-339. Watson, D., Friend, R.
(1969). Measurement of social-evaluative
anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology, 33, 448-457.