Improving adherence to a web-based cognitive-behavioural therapy program for social anxiety with group sessions: A randomised control trial

Sigurðardóttir, S; Helgadóttir, FD; Menzies, RE; Sighvatsson, MB; Menzies, RG

Improving adherence to a web-based cognitive-behavioural therapy program for social anxiety with group sessions: A randomised control trial

Sigurðardóttir, S Helgadóttir, FD Menzies, RE Sighvatsson, MB Menzies, RG

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Internet Interventions, 2022, 28, pp. 100535
Issue Date:: 2022-04-05

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Sigurðardóttir, S
dc.contributor.author	Helgadóttir, FD
dc.contributor.author	Menzies, RE
dc.contributor.author	Sighvatsson, MB
dc.contributor.author	Menzies, RG
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-24T04:08:27Z
dc.date.available	2022-04-04
dc.date.available	2022-08-24T04:08:27Z
dc.date.issued	2022-04-05
dc.identifier.citation	Internet Interventions, 2022, 28, pp. 100535
dc.identifier.issn	2214-7829
dc.identifier.issn	2214-7829
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160775
dc.description.abstract	Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) commonly receive non-evidence based, ineffective treatments. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been demonstrated to be the gold standard treatment for treating SAD. Scalable web-based CBT programs ensure evidence-based treatment procedures, but low treatment adherence remains problematic. This study aimed to test whether adding group sessions to a fully automated web-based CBT program, Overcome Social Anxiety (OSA), would increase treatment adherence. A total of 69 participants were provided access to a web-based program, and randomly allocated to three conditions: 1) An experimental condition involving an addition of three online group psychoeducation sessions; 2) a placebo condition involving an addition of three online progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) group sessions, or 3) a control condition where participants did not receive group sessions. Adherence was operationalised as number of OSA modules completed. Treatment adherence significantly differed between the conditions. On average, participants assigned to the placebo condition completed significantly more of the program compared to those in the control condition. Further, all conditions produced a significant improvement in BFNE and QOLS. No significant difference in treatment efficacy was found between groups on the SIAS, BFNE or QOLS. The current results indicate PMR can improve treatment adherence for scalable social anxiety interventions.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER
dc.relation.ispartof	Internet Interventions
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.invent.2022.100535
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1005 Communications Technologies, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.title	Improving adherence to a web-based cognitive-behavioural therapy program for social anxiety with group sessions: A randomised control trial
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	28
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	1005 Communications Technologies
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ASRC Australian Stuttering Research Centre
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Australian Stuttering Research Centre
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-08-24T04:08:23Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	28

Abstract:

Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) commonly receive non-evidence based, ineffective treatments. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been demonstrated to be the gold standard treatment for treating SAD. Scalable web-based CBT programs ensure evidence-based treatment procedures, but low treatment adherence remains problematic. This study aimed to test whether adding group sessions to a fully automated web-based CBT program, Overcome Social Anxiety (OSA), would increase treatment adherence. A total of 69 participants were provided access to a web-based program, and randomly allocated to three conditions: 1) An experimental condition involving an addition of three online group psychoeducation sessions; 2) a placebo condition involving an addition of three online progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) group sessions, or 3) a control condition where participants did not receive group sessions. Adherence was operationalised as number of OSA modules completed. Treatment adherence significantly differed between the conditions. On average, participants assigned to the placebo condition completed significantly more of the program compared to those in the control condition. Further, all conditions produced a significant improvement in BFNE and QOLS. No significant difference in treatment efficacy was found between groups on the SIAS, BFNE or QOLS. The current results indicate PMR can improve treatment adherence for scalable social anxiety interventions.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160775