Study of an Internet-delivered Treatment Based on Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy for Social Anxiety Disorder (STePS)

Stockholm University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Social Anxiety Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Experimental: Internet delivered self-help program with therapist support; Behavioral: Internet delivered self-help program without therapist support

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05015166

STePS

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this randomized, controlled study is to examine an internet delivered, self-help program for social anxiety based on psychodynamic therapy. The study will compare three conditions: the psychodynamic program with therapist support, without therapist support and a waitlist control.

Enrollment: 181 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years old or older
• Fulfill the DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety disorder (Score > 60 on the self-assessment instrument LSAS-SR)
• Have access to a computer/smartphone/tablet with internet connection
• Be able to read and write Swedish.

Exclusion criteria

• Suicidal (within the previous month, assessed with the self-assessment instrument C-SSRS)
• Partaking in psychological treatment
• Ongoing treatment with psychopharmacological drugs with dose adjustments within the nearest month or planned dose adjustments.

The following self-reported diagnoses are excluded:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Serious depression (Score ≥ 20 on the PHQ9)
• Indications of psychosis or bipolar disorder (type 1 or 2).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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181 participants in 3 patient groups

Internet delivered self-help program with therapist support

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention consists of 8 therapist-supported self-help modules delivered over 8 weeks on a secure online platform. Modules consist of texts and video followed by exercises which they send to their therapist and receive feedback within a few days. The treatment is based on principles from affect-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Experimental: Internet delivered self-help program with therapist support

Internet delivered self-help program without therapist support

Active Comparator group

Description:

The intervention consists of 8 self-help modules delivered over 8 weeks on a secure online platform. Modules consist of texts and video followed by exercises which the participants are encouraged to try. The treatment is based on principles from affect-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Internet delivered self-help program without therapist support

Waitlist

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will receive no intervention for 8 weeks.