Anxiety trajectories in response to a speech task in social anxiety disorder: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial of CBT.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial comparing CBT to waitlist control
PubMed 26760456 · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.12.006
What was done
Researchers compared anxiety trajectories during a speech task between individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD; n = 135) and healthy controls (HCs; n = 47). They then evaluated the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on these anxiety trajectories compared to a waitlist control condition in a randomized trial design.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values or effect sizes. SAD participants exhibited higher anxiety levels and greater increases in anticipatory anxiety compared to healthy controls, but no differential change from pre- to post-speech. CBT was associated with decreases in anxiety from pre- to post-speech, but showed no effect on absolute levels of anticipatory anxiety or on the rate of anxiety increase during anticipation.
Why it matters
This indicates that standard CBT may help individuals recover more effectively after a social stressor, but does not sufficiently reduce acute anticipatory anxiety prior to the event.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative data, effect sizes, or p-values. The comparator was an inactive waitlist rather than an active control, and long-term durability of the response was not described.
Cited by
- context The point where people experience peak nervousness during public speaking is approximately 30 seconds before starting and about one minute into speaking.