ERIC Number: EJ992313
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jun
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-006X
EISSN: N/A
Interpretation Training in Individuals with Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Amir, Nader; Taylor, Charles T.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v80 n3 p497-511 Jun 2012
Objective: To examine the efficacy of a multisession computerized interpretation modification program (IMP) in the treatment of generalized social anxiety disorder (GSAD). Method: The sample comprised 49 individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for GSAD who were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial comparing IMP (n = 23) with an interpretation control condition (ICC; n = 26). The interpretation training procedures comprised a word-sentence association task in which participants decided whether a word implying a threatening or benign meaning was related to an ambiguous social scenario. In the IMP group, participants were reinforced for interpreting ambiguous social information in a nonthreatening and more benign manner. In the ICC group, participants were reinforced with equal frequency for interpreting ambiguous social information in either a threatening or benign manner. Results: Intent-to-treat and completer analyses revealed that IMP significantly decreased threat interpretations and increased benign interpretations from pre- to post-assessment relative to the ICC group. Moreover, IMP participants displayed significantly larger reductions in clinician-rated social anxiety symptoms and functional impairment as well as self-reported trait anxiety and depression relative to ICC participants. Groups did not differ on change in self-rated social anxiety symptoms. Participants no longer meeting "DSM-IV" criteria for GSAD at post-assessment were 65% in IMP and 13% in ICC. Conclusions: These results suggest that computerized interpretation training procedures may be beneficial for treating social anxiety disorder. (Contains 5 tables, 1 figure, and 6 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Anxiety Disorders, Anxiety, Depression (Psychology), Control Groups, Comparative Analysis, Task Analysis, Association Measures, Ambiguity (Context), Reinforcement, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Therapy, Outcomes of Treatment
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A