Modular CBT for Youth Social Anxiety Disorder: A Case Series Examining Initial Effectiveness

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most efficacious treatment for childhood anxiety disorders. At the same time, several studies showed that for children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder (SAD), standard protocolized CBT seems to be less efficacious than for youth with other types of anxiety disorders, suggesting that children with SAD need a different approach. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a modularized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children with SAD, including mindfulness. Ten children and adolescents (50% girls, aged 8–17 years) referred for SAD were measured at pretreatment, posttreatment and 10 weeks follow-up. Results showed that 5 youths (50%) were free of their SAD posttreatment, and 8 (80%) at follow-up. Clinically meaningful improvements from pretest to follow-up were found in 90% and 60% of the cases, for the total anxiety symptom score and social anxiety symptom score, respectively. Pre-post-follow-up group analyses revealed significant improvements in SAD severity (combined parent and child report) and social anxiety symptoms across child, mother, and father report. The remission rate of 80% and substantial social anxiety symptom decline is promising, providing a starting point for improving treatments of youth with SAD.