Online Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Program for Hong Kong People With Social Anxiety Disorder

Hong Kong Baptist University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Social Anxiety Disorder

Treatments: Other: Online cognitive behavioral therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04995913

R2018-18

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study developed an online counseling program called "EASE Online" for Hong Kong people with social anxiety disorder. The program effectiveness was evaluated by a randomized controlled trial in reducing social anxiety and improving quality of life of the participants. The 3- and 6-month maintenance effects were also tested.

Full description

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is one of the most common mental disorders worldwide. In Hong Kong, the 12-month prevalence of SAD is 3.2% (Lee, Lee & Kwok, 2005) with more than 230,000 sufferers. However, only 8.7% of SAD sufferers have sought medical treatment in Hong Kong (Lee et al., 2005), which means that most of the sufferers are undiagnosed and untreated. One of the most effective treatments for SAD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and internet-based CBT has shown promise in reducing general and social anxieties, as well as improving the quality of life of those with SAD (e.g. Carlbring et al., 2007; Tillfors et al., 2011). However, few studies have been conducted in this field in Hong Kong. This project aims to develop an online CBT program (including both an online platform and mobile application) for Hong Kong people with SAD, as well as evaluate its effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms and psychological distress, and improving quality of life at post-treatment and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was adopted for program evaluation.

Enrollment: 600 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Hong Kong residents with fluency in Cantonese
• between the ages of 18 and 70
• a score of 25 or more on the Chinese version of the Social Phobia Inventory (C-SPIN) (Tsai et al., 2009)
• have not received any psychological treatment at the time of registration for participation in the project
• have access to a computer or smartphone with internet connection.

Exclusion criteria

• being severely depressed, with a score above 30 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) (Beck, Steer & Brown, 1996)
• having suicidal ideation in the past three months, with a score of 3 points on Item 9 of the BDI-II.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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600 participants in 3 patient groups

Computer-based (PC) online CBT program (Web version of the EASE Online Program)

Experimental group

Description:

The Web version of the EASE Online Program delivers the online CBT program through the Program website. It includes 9 online modules, 3 face-to-face/online/telephone counseling sessions, and 2 sessions of virtual reality exposure therapy.

Treatment:

Other: Online cognitive behavioral therapy

Smartphone-based (App) online CBT program (App version of the EASE Online Program)

Experimental group

Description:

The App version of the EASE Online Program delivers the online CBT program through a smartphone application. The program content and system functions are the same as those of the Web version.

Treatment:

Other: Online cognitive behavioral therapy

Waitlist control group

Other group

Description:

The Waitlist control group will receive the service of the Web version of the EASE Online Program after the two experimental groups completed the service.

Treatment:

Other: Online cognitive behavioral therapy