Specific issues in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of social phobia

Abstract

Cognitive-behavioral approaches to the treatment of social phobia are selectively reviewed. The review examines three specific questions of importance in the cognitive-behavioral treatment literature: (1) What is the role of cognitive techniques in the treatment of social phobia, especially in conjunction with behavioral techniques like in vivo exposure or social skills training? (2) Is there long-term maintenance of gains as a result of cognitive-behavioral treatment of social phobia? (3) How does cognitive-behavioral treatment of social phobia compare with pharmacologic treatment approaches? This review presents studies that address these questions, offers tentative answers, and outlines directions for future research on the cognitive-behavioral treatment of social phobia.