Efficacy of an unguided internet-based self-help intervention for social anxiety disorder in university students: A randomized controlled trial.

Kählke F, Berger T, Schulz A, Baumeister H, Berking M, Auerbach RP, Bruffaerts R, Cuijpers P, Kessler RC, Ebert D (2019)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research Wiley-Blackwell

Pages Range: e1766

DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1766

Abstract

Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) offer the opportunity to deliver mental health treatments on a large scale. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of an unguided IMI (StudiCare SAD) for university students with social anxiety disorder (SAD).\nUniversity students (N = 200) diagnosed with SAD were randomly assigned to an IMI or a waitlist control group (WLC) with full access to treatment as usual. StudiCare SAD consists of nine sessions. The primary outcome was SAD symptoms at posttreatment (10 weeks), assessed via the Social Phobia Scale (SPS) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). Secondary outcomes included depression, quality of life, fear of positive evaluation, general psychopathology, and interpersonal problems.\nResults indicated moderate to large effect sizes in favor of StudiCare SAD compared with WLC for SAD at posttest for the primary outcomes (SPS: d = 0.76; SIAS: d = 0.55, p < 0.001). Effects on all secondary outcomes were significant and in favor of the intervention group.\nStudiCare SAD has proven effective in reducing SAD symptoms in university students. Providing IMIs may be a promising way to reach university students with SAD at an early stage with an effective treatment.\nOBJECTIVES\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSION

Authors with CRIS profile

Fanny Kählke Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie Matthias Berking Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie David Ebert Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Additional Organisation(s)

Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Involved external institutions

University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH) CH Switzerland (CH) Universität Ulm DE Germany (DE) Universität Bern CH Switzerland (CH) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) / University Amsterdam NL Netherlands (NL) Harvard University US United States (USA) (US) Columbia University US United States (USA) (US) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) / Catholic University of Leuven BE Belgium (BE)

How to cite

APA:

Kählke, F., Berger, T., Schulz, A., Baumeister, H., Berking, M., Auerbach, R.P.,... Ebert, D. (2019). Efficacy of an unguided internet-based self-help intervention for social anxiety disorder in university students: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, e1766. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1766

MLA:

Kählke, Fanny, et al. "Efficacy of an unguided internet-based self-help intervention for social anxiety disorder in university students: A randomized controlled trial." International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research (2019): e1766.

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