A preliminary study of the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioural therapy for people with social anxiety in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objective: This study used a randomised waitlist control design to examine the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural group therapy for Chinese people with social anxiety in Hong Kong. Patients and Methods: In total, 34 Chinese participants with social anxieties were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The participants in the experimental group received a 10-session cognitive-behavioural therapy group treatment, while participants of the control group did not. Outcome measures included The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Emotions Checklist, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale. Results: Preliminary findings suggested that subjects receiving group cognitive-behavioural therapy showed significant decrease in social anxiety, dysfunctional rules and negative emotions and significant increase in adaptive coping skills and positive emotions compared with the control group. Conclusion: These findings provide initial evidence of the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioural therapy for Chinese people with social anxieties. Future research should use a larger sample and examine the longer term effect of group cognitive-behavioural therapy. © 2006 Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists.