Does the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Social Anxiety Disorder Differ According to Symptoms?

Authors : Yüksel Sümeyra Naralan

Pages : 65-71

Doi:10.35440/hutfd.1591283

View : 17 | Download : 35

Publication Date : 2025-03-26

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) presents with different symptoms and clinical appearances due to individual differences. The explanations provided by categorical models for these differences may be limited. Some individuals diagnosed with SAD may exhibit higher anxiety in performance situa-tions, while others may exhibit higher anxiety in social situations. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the difference in symptom size in terms of clinical features and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment effectiveness. Materials and Methods: The records of 23 adolescents aged 12-18 who received CBT in addition to SSRI treatment for SAD between March 2022 and June 2023 were retrospectively reviewed and in-cluded in the study. Based on the information obtained from the participants\\\' records, they were divided into two groups as generalized type (GT) and restrictive type (RT) according to their Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) scores. The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), Children’s Anxiety Disor-ders Screening Scale (CADSS), Capa Child and Adolescent Social Phobia Scale (CASPS), and LSAS subscale scores were compared before and after CBT. Results: When the RT (n=10) and GT (n=13) pre-treatment scale scores were compared, the CDI, CADSS, CAPSS and LSAS scores of the adolescents in the GT group were statistically significantly higher. When the LSAS subscales and CADSS scores of both groups were compared after CBT treatment, the scale scores were found to be higher in the GT group. Conclusions: This study suggests that the effectiveness of CBT may be reduced when categorical diagno-sis is made according to symptoms in SAD, especially in cases accompanied by depressive symptoms and other anxiety disorders.
Keywords : sosyal anksiyete bozukluğu, ergen, bilişsel davranışçı terapi