This study will determine whether people with social phobia are deficient in certain social skills.
Social phobia is a debilitating condition that can cause severe social, emotional, educational, and occupational functioning problems. Evidence suggests that individuals with social phobia are deficient in social skills, but the exact skills deficits have not been elucidated. This study will comprise two substudies: one will examine social skills deficits in social phobics and determine how they differ from those of people without social phobia; the other will determine if skills deficits in social phobics can be improved and whether improvements will affect overall social functioning. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of three groups for 16 weeks: an exposure group, a social skills training and exposure (SET) group, or a wait-list control group. Interviews, self-reports, and simulated role plays will be used to assess the social skills of participants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
379
Social skills training once per week
Exposure once per week
Placebo
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Social Phobia Remission
Time frame: Measured at Month 12
Social Phobia Remission Rate at 6 Month Follow-up
Lack of SocialPhobia Diagnosis at 6 month follow-up
Time frame: 6 month follow up
Score on the SPAI
Time frame: Measured at Month 12
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