Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common anxiety disorder (ANX) with moderate heritability that often co-occurs with other mental disorders. Until now, sample sizes in genetic analyses of SAD have been limited, so that the genetic basis of SAD and its subphenotypes is still largely unknown. In a large cohort comprising n = 1,194 SAD patients derived from five German cohorts and n = 3,409 controls from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, we computed polygenic risk scores (PRS) at six p-thresholds using PRSice-2 based on large-scale genome-wide association studies for depression, major depressive disorder (MDD), ANX, schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anorexia nervosa (AN), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and alcohol dependence (AD). We used general linear models to examine the association between the PRS and SAD status. In SAD subsamples, we investigated whether the PRS are associated with SAD subphenotypes (i.e., SAD severity, current depressive symptoms, comorbid MDD) using correlation analyses and a general linear model. Results were corrected for multiple testing. The SAD status was significantly associated with PRS for depression, MDD, ANX, SCZ, BD, AN, and ASD (pBH-adjusted<0.05), but not with PRS for ADHD and AD. In SAD subsamples, the subphenotype analyses revealed no significant associations after correction for multiple testing (pBH-adjusted>0.05). Our results support that SAD seems to be genetically highly overlapping with other mental disorders, which might underline a common psychopathological factor. No significant association was found with SAD severity, current depressive symptoms or comorbid MDD. A better understanding of the genetic architecture of SAD may help to develop new diagnostic and treatment approaches.

OBJECTIVE:This study aims to compare treatment outcomes of manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (MAN-CBT) with CBT treatment-as-usual (TAU-CBT) in patients with social anxiety disorder across two separate investigations. It was examined whether treatment effects differ between conditions after the total number of sessions, and whether manualized therapies would show better outcomes with equivalent dose of sessions. METHODS:All patients underwent CBT at the same outpatient treatment center. This secondary analysis utilizes data from two randomized controlled trials for the manualized CBT groups, while the TAU-CBT groups comprised existing routine-care data not derived from a prior study. Propensity score matching was applied, resulting in subsamples (n = 148; n = 64) with equal proportions of MAN-CBT and TAU-CBT. Social anxiety symptoms and general psychopathology were assessed as outcomes and analyzed using multilevel modeling. RESULTS:After the total number of sessions, patients in both investigations showed significant reduction in all outcomes (MAN-CBT: d = 0.93-1.99; TAU-CBT d = 0.89-1.44), with no differences between conditions (except for the SPAI in Investigation 2 in favor of MAN-CBT). Overall, TAU-CBT groups had a higher overall therapy dose. With an equivalent therapy dose the MAN-CBT conditions yielded significantly better outcomes than the TAU-CBT groups across all but two outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:Findings indicate manualized CBT treatments require a lower therapy dose than TAU-CBT for comparable effects. Therapy manuals for social anxiety could therefore offer an opportunity to help patients improve faster and may help increase available treatment capacity in the public healthcare system.

Importance:Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can be adequately treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, there is a large gap in knowledge on factors associated with prognosis, and it is unclear whether symptom severity predicts response to CBT for SAD.Objective:To examine baseline SAD symptom severity as a moderator of the association between CBT and symptom change in patients with SAD.Data Sources:For this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA), PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 1990, to January 13, 2023. Primary search topics were social anxiety disorder, cognitive behavior therapy, and randomized controlled trial.Study Selection:Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials comparing CBT with being on a waiting list and using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) in adults with a primary clinical diagnosis of SAD.Data Extraction and Synthesis:Authors of included studies were approached to provide individual-level data. Data were extracted by pairs of authors following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. An IPDMA was conducted using a 2-stage approach for the association of CBT with change in LSAS scores from baseline to posttreatment and for the interaction effect of baseline LSAS score by condition using random-effects models.Main Outcomes and Measures:The main outcome was the baseline to posttreatment change in symptom severity measured by the LSAS.Results:A total of 12 studies including 1246 patients with SAD (mean [SD] age, 35.3 [10.9] years; 738 [59.2%] female) were included in the meta-analysis. A waiting list-controlled association between CBT and pretreatment to posttreatment LSAS change was found (b = -20.3; 95% CI, -24.9 to -15.6; P < .001; Cohen d = -0.95; 95% CI, -1.16 to -0.73). Baseline LSAS scores moderated the differences between CBT and waiting list with respect to pretreatment to posttreatment symptom reductions (b = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.06; P = .009), indicating that individuals with severe symptoms had larger waiting list-controlled symptom reductions after CBT (Cohen d = -1.13 [95% CI, -1.39 to -0.88] for patients with very severe SAD; Cohen d = -0.54 [95% CI, -0.80 to -0.29] for patients with mild SAD).Conclusions and Relevance:In this systematic review and IPDMA, higher baseline SAD symptom severity was associated with greater (absolute but not relative) symptom reductions after CBT in patients with SAD. The findings contribute to personalized care by suggesting that clinicians can confidently offer CBT to individuals with severe SAD symptoms.

•Shame plays an important role in the understanding of social anxiety disorders.•Shame contributes significantly to the variation in social anxiety disorders over and above depression.•Guilt does not seem to have a notable association with social anxiety disorder, at least not contextual-legitimate guilt. For maladaptive forms of guilt, further research is required.

Objectives: The use of trajectories and analysis of change patterns is a promising way toward better differentiation of subgroups in psychotherapy studies. Research on change patterns in social anxiety disorder (SAD) are still rare, although SAD is one of the most common mental disorders. In a secondary analysis of data from the SOPHO-NET-trial (ISRCTN53517394) this study aimed to investigate change patterns and their predictors in a sample of SAD patients. Methods: Patients with SAD (N = 357) were randomly assigned to cognitive-behavioral or psychodynamic therapy. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) was assessed at 1st session (pre), 8th session, 15th session and at the end of treatment (post). We used latent state variables and latent class analysis for the classification of change patterns and logistic regression for the identification of different predictors. Results: Analyses revealed three typical patterns: (i.) responders with a high initial impairment (N = 57), (ii.) responders with a moderate initial impairment (N = 225), and (iii.) patients with a high initial impairment and no remission (N = 75). Among other significant predicators, patient's attachment anxiety and therapeutic alliance at session eight contributed to the prediction of change patterns. Discussion: Psychotherapy of SAD should consider patient's attachment and focus on the establishment of a solid therapeutic alliance in an early therapy stage.

The investigation of interindividual differences in the effects of a treatment is challenging, because many constructs-of-interest in psychological research such as depression or anxiety are latent variables and modeling heterogeneity in treatment effects requires interactions and potentially nonlinear relationships. In this paper, we present a tutorial of the EffectLiteR approach (Mayer, Dietzfelbinger, Rosseel, & Steyer, 2016) that allows for estimating individual treatment effects based on latent variable models. We describe step by step how to apply the approach using the EffectLiteR software package with data from the multicenter randomized controlled trial of the Social Phobia Psychotherapy Network (SOPHO-NET) and provide guidelines and recommendations for researchers. The focus of the paper is on explaining the results of a comprehensive effect analysis in an accessible language and on highlighting the opportunities the EffectLiteR approach offers for analyzing interindividual differences in treatment effects.

Objective: The German version of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI-G) is a validated measure for the detection of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The aim of the present study was to develop optimal cut points (OC) for remission and response to treatment for the SPAI-G.Methods: We used Receiver Operating Characteristic methods and bootstrapping to analyse the data of 359 patients after psychotherapeutic treatment. OCs where defined as the cut points with the highest sensitivity and specificity after bootstrapping.Results: For remission, an OC of 2.79 was found, and for response, a change in score from pre- to posttreatment by 11% yielded best results.Conclusions: The OCwe identified for remissionmay be used to improve the diagnostic utility of the SPAI-G. However, the cut point for response achieved only borderline-acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity, calling into doubt their utility in clinical and research setting.

OBJECTIVES:Social anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent mental disorders and often manifests in youth or adolescence. Our aim was to determine direct costs of adolescents with social anxiety disorder and the cost-effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy (PDT) compared to waiting list (WL). METHODS:Baseline data (n = 103) of a randomized controlled trial was used to determine direct costs. Cost-effectiveness of CBT and PDT compared to WL was analyzed using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) based on the EQ-5D index as measure of health effects. RESULTS:Total six-month direct costs were 809 € (SE 508 €). Especially costs of outpatient physician treatment (325 €; SE 301 €) and psychiatric hospital stays (377 €; SE 258 €) were high. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of CBT compared to WL was 18,824 €/QALY, with a probability of 63 % for the ICER being below 50,000 €/QALY. PDT did not prove to be cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS:Direct costs were mainly caused by psychiatric hospital stays and outpatient physician treatments. CBT is likely to be cost-effective compared to WL, whereas PDT is unlikely to be cost-effective.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Ziel war die Analyse direkter Kosten sozialer Angststörung (SAD) bei Jugendlichen und der Kosteneffektivität von CBT bzw. PDT. Methoden Multizentrische randomisierte Studie mit N = 103 Patienten. Krankheitskosten wurden zur Baseline und Kosteneffektivität nach der Behandlung analysiert. Ergebnisse Direkte 6-Monats-Kosten zu Baseline lagen bei 809 €. Während die inkrementelle Kosten-Effektivitäts-Relation von CBT im Vergleich zur Warteliste bei 18 824 €/QALY lag, war PDT nicht kosteneffektiv. Zusammenfassung SAD verursacht hohe direkte Kosten. CBT ist wahrscheinlich kosteneffektiv.

Objectives Within a randomized controlled trial contrasting the outcome of manualized cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and short term psychodynamic therapy (PDT) compared to a waiting list condition (the SOPHO-Net trial), we set out to test whether self-reported attachment characteristics change during the treatments and if these changes differ between treatments. Research design and methods 495 patients from the SOPHO-Net trial (54.5% female, mean age 35.2 years) who were randomized to either CBT, PDT or waiting list (WL) completed the partner-related revised Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire (ECR-R) before and after treatment and at 6 and 12 months follow-up. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) was administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 6-month and 1-year follow-up. ECR-R scores were first compared to a representative healthy sample (n = 2508) in order to demonstrate that the clinical sample differed significantly from the non-clinical sample with respect to attachment anxiety and avoidance. Results LSAS scores correlated significantly with both ECR-R subscales. Post-therapy, patients treated with CBT revealed significant changes in attachment anxiety and avoidance whereas patients treated with PDT showed no significant changes. Changes between post-treatment and the two follow-ups were significant in both conditions, with minimal (insignificant) differences between treatments at the 12- month follow-up. Conclusions The current study supports recent reviews of mostly naturalistic studies indicating changes in attachment as a result of psychotherapy. Although there were differences between conditions at the end of treatment, these largely disappeared during the follow-up period which is line with the other results of the SOPHO-NET trial. Trial registration Controlled-trials.com ISRCTN53517394

Background: Although social anxiety disorder (SAD) has an early onset and is frequently found in adolescence, evidence for psychotherapeutic treatments of SAD in adolescents is rather scarce. Within the Social Phobia Psychotherapy Research Network (SOPHO-NET), we examined the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy (PDT) compared to a waiting list (WL) in these patients. Methods: In a multicenter randomized controlled superiority trial, 107 patients, aged 14–20 years, were randomized to CBT (n = 34), PDT (n = 34), or WL (n = 39). Assessments were made at baseline, at the end of treatment, and 6 and 12 months after termination. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA) applied by raters masked to the treatment condition was used as the primary outcome. As secondary outcomes, rates of response and remission and the Social Phobia Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) were used. Results: Both treatments were superior to WL in the LSAS-CA (CBT: p = 0.0112, d = 0.61, 95% CI 0.14–1.08; PDT: p = 0.0261, d = 0.53, 95% CI 0.06–1.00). At the end of treatment, response rates were 66, 54, and 20% for CBT, PDT, and WL. The corresponding remission rates were 47, 34, and 6%, respectively. CBT and PDT were significantly superior to WL regarding remission (CBT: p = 0.0009, h = 1.0; PDT: p = 0.0135, h = 0.74), response (CBT: p = 0.0004, h = 0.97; PDT: p = 0.0056, h = 0.72), and the SPAI (CBT: p = 0.0021, d = 0.75, 95% CI 0.27–1.22; PDT: p = 0.0060, d = 0.66, 95% CI 0.19–1.13). Treatment effects were stable at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Conclusions: These results are comparable to the large SOPHO-NET trial in adults (n = 495). Early treatments for social anxiety are needed in order to prevent chronic manifestation of SAD.

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of manualized cognitive therapy (mCT) following the Clark-Wells approach versus non-manualized cognitive-behavioral treatment-as-usual (CBTAU) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) in routine practice.Methods: Forty-eight private practitioners were recruited within a multi-center trial and either received training in manualized CT for SAD or no such training. Practitioners treated 162 patients with SAD in routine practice (N = 107 completers, n = 57 for mCT, n = 50 for CBTAU). Social anxiety symptoms (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale; LSAS) and secondary measures were assessed before treatment, at treatment-hour 8, 15, and 25, at end of treatment, as well as 6 and 12 months after treatment.Results: Patients in both groups showed significant reductions of SAD severity after treatment (d = 1.91 [mCT] and d = 1.80 [CBTAU], within-group effect sizes, intent-to-treat analyses, LSAS observer ratings), which remained stable at follow-up. There were no differences between groups in terms of symptom reduction and treatment duration.Conclusions: The present trial confirms the high effectiveness of CBTAU and mCT for SAD when practitioners conduct the treatments in routine practice. Additional training in the CT manual did not result in significant between-group effects on therapy outcome. Explanations for this unexpected result are discussed. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: Social anxiety disorder is one of the most frequent mental disorders. It is often associated with mental comorbidities and causes a high economic burden. The aim of our analysis was to estimate the excess costs of patients with social anxiety disorder compared to persons without anxiety disorder in Germany.Methods: Excess costs of social anxiety disorder were determined by comparing two data sets. Patient data came from the SOPHO-NET study A1 (n=495), whereas data of persons without anxiety disorder originated from a representative phone survey (n=3213) of the general German population. Missing data were handled by "Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations". Both data sets were matched using "Entropy Balancing". Excess costs were calculated from a societal perspective for the year 2014 using general linear regression with a gamma distribution and log-link function. Analyses considered direct costs (in- and outpatient treatment, rehabilitation, and professional and informal care) and indirect costs due to absenteeism from work.Results: Total six-month excess costs amounted to 451(sic) (95% CI: 199(sic)-703(sic)). Excess costs were mainly caused by indirect excess costs due to absenteeism from work of 317(sic) (95% CI: 172(sic)-461(sic)), whereas direct excess costs amounted to 134(sic) (95% CI: 110(Sic)-159(Sic)).Limitations: Costs for medication, unemployment and disability pension was not evaluated.Conclusions: Social anxiety disorder was associated with statistically significant excess costs, in particular due to indirect costs. As patients in general are often unaware of their disorder or its severity, awareness should be strengthened. Prevention and early treatment might reduce long-term indirect costs.

Background To determine the cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus psychodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of social anxiety disorder after a follow-up of 30 months from a societal perspective. Methods This analysis was conducted alongside the multicenter SOPHO-NET trial; adults with a primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder received CBT (n = 209) or PDT (n = 207). Data on health care utilization and productivity loss were collected at baseline, after 6 months (posttreatment), and three further follow-ups to calculate direct and indirect costs. Anxiety-free days (AFDs) calculated based on remission and response were used as measure of effect. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was determined. Net benefit regressions, adjusted for comorbidities and baseline differences, were applied to derive cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Results In the descriptive analysis, the unadjusted ICER favored CBT over PDT and the adjusted analysis showed that CBT's cost-effectiveness relative to PDT depends on the willingness to pay (WTP) per AFD. As baseline costs differed substantially the unadjusted estimates might be deceptive. If additional WTPs for CBT of €0, €10, and €30 were assumed, the probability of CBT being cost-effective relative to PDT was 65, 83, and 96%. Direct costs increased compared to baseline across groups, whereas indirect costs did not change significantly. Results were sensitive to considered costs. Conclusions If the society is willing to pay ≥€30 per additional AFD, CBT can be considered cost-effective, relative to PDT, with certainty. To further increase the cost-effectiveness more knowledge regarding predictors of treatment outcome seems essential.

Summary This review presents historical aspects, terminology and diagnostical procedures of somatoform autonomous functional disorders (SAF) as included in the ICD-10, particularly in relation to the other somatoform disorders. Empirical studies showing the relevance of comorbidity and illness-behaviour, the role of psychosocial factors, prognosis and empirical proved therapy are illustrated. Therapy-relevant conclusions follow. Most studies are done in the subcategory SAF of the gastrointestinal system. The high placebo-response-rates in the controlled studies show that repetitive con tacts as used in study designs reduce complaints. Studies in psychotherapy prove the efficacy of information on the disease, relaxation techniques, stress management and conflict-centred talks. SAF of the cardiovascular system are improved by cognitive be havioural therapy, as some studies show, SAF of the respiratory system improve by biofeedback. There is a lack of studies on SAF of the urogenital system. There are only a few studies on pharmacotherapy on patients with SAF with short observation periods, symptoms relapse regularly often stopping the medication. Research desider ata are formulated.

Objectives Little is known about patient characteristics as predictors for outcome in manualized short term psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT). No study has addressed which patient variables predict outcome of PDT for social anxiety disorder. Research Design and Methods In the largest multicenter trial on psychotherapy of social anxiety (SA) to date comparing cognitive therapy, PDT and wait list condition N = 230 patients were assigned to receive PDT, of which N = 166 completed treatment. Treatment outcome was assessed based on diverse parameters such as endstate functioning, remission, response, and drop-out. The relationship between patient characteristics (demographic variables, mental co-morbidity, personality, interpersonal problems) and outcome was analysed using logistic and linear regressions. Results Pre-treatment SA predicted up to 39 percent of variance of outcome. Only few additional baseline characteristics predicted better treatment outcome (namely, lower comorbidity and interpersonal problems) with a limited proportion of incremental variance (5.5 to 10 percent), while, e.g., shame, self-esteem or harm avoidance did not. Conclusions We argue that the central importance of pre-treatment symptom severity for predicting outcomes should advocate alternative treatment strategies (e.g. longer treatments, combination of psychotherapy and medication) in those who are most disturbed. Given the relatively small amount of variance explained by the other patient characteristics, process variables and patient-therapist interaction should additionally be taken into account in future research. Trial Registration Controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN53517394

Depression and AnxietyVolume 33, Issue 12 p. 1073-1079 Issue InformationFree Access Depression and Anxiety Issue Information First published: 07 December 2016 https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22419AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume33, Issue12FOCUS ON TREATMENTDecember 2016Pages 1073-1079 RelatedInformation