EXPOSURE WITH AND WITHOUT COGNITIVE THERAPY FOR GENERALIZED SOCIAL PHOBIA - EFFECTS OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP TREATMENT

Patients with generalized social phobia (n = 73) were randomly allocat ed to two treatment modalities: (1) group or (2) individual treatment, and to three treatment packages: (1) two blocks of exposure in vivo ( 2) a block cognitive therapy followed by a block exposure in vivo, or (3) two blocks cognitive-behavioural treatment in which both strategie s were integrated from the start. All treatments consisted of 16 sessi ons, given in two treatment blocks of 4 weeks each, separated by a no- treatment phase of 4 weeks. Self-report assessments were held before a nd after the treatment blocks and at 3-months follow-up. Significant d ifferences were found between effects of the first treatment block vs those of the 4-weeks waiting-list period. Repeated measures MANOVA's d emonstrated significant time effects after both treatment blocks and a t follow-up, indicating improvement for the group as a whole. After th e first treatment block the integrated treatment did significantly wor se than either exposure in vivo or cognitive therapy in decreasing som atic complaints. On the other variables no differences among the treat ments were found. At follow-up a significant interaction was found bet ween treatment package and modality on the variable cognitions: larges t progress was found in the group treatment with cognitive therapy fol lowed by exposure in vivo; smallest progress was found in the integrat ed group treatment. Results are discussed and recommendations for furt her research are given.