<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_sjcapp-2022-0010_s_007"><h3>Background</h3>
<p>Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders among adolescents. It is associated with extensive distress and negative long-term consequences. Generic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the preferred treatments for anxiety disorders, but it has shown poorer outcome for adolescents with SAD than for other anxiety disorders.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2022-0010_s_008"><h3>Aim</h3>
<p>As preparation for a randomized controlled trial the aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility of an adjusted diagnosis-specific CBT group intervention for adolescents with SAD, and provide preliminary information on adolescent and family outcomes.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2022-0010_s_009"><h3>Method</h3>
<p>Thirteen adolescents (age 12-17 years) diagnosed with SAD received a group therapy version of the Cool Kids Anxiety Program, Social Enhanced (CK-E), a program developed at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. The treatment is a diagnosis-specific manualized CBT treatment for adolescents with SAD. Semi-diagnostic interviews and questionnaires were completed at baseline, post, 3-month follow-up and 1-year follow-up.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2022-0010_s_010"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>Thirteen adolescents participated with no drop-outs. Most families attended all 10 intervention sessions. The families were generally satisfied with the treatment and would recommend it to others in need. Preliminary outcomes showed that participants had marked improvements in their anxiety symptoms and life interference, with significant medium to large baseline-post effect sizes durable at 1-year follow-up. Two of the adolescents were free of their SAD diagnosis at 3-month follow-up.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjcapp-2022-0010_s_011"><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Results from this feasibility study indicate that the Danish-translated and revised version of Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Social Enhanced could be a feasible intervention for Danish adolescents with SAD. The intervention will be investigated further in a randomized controlled trial.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Background
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders among adolescents. It is associated with extensive distress and negative long-term consequences. Generic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the preferred treatments for anxiety disorders, but it has shown poorer outcome for adolescents with SAD than for other anxiety disorders.
Aim
As preparation for a randomized controlled trial the aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility of an adjusted diagnosis-specific CBT group intervention for adolescents with SAD, and provide preliminary information on adolescent and family outcomes.
Method
Thirteen adolescents (age 12-17 years) diagnosed with SAD received a group therapy version of the Cool Kids Anxiety Program, Social Enhanced (CK-E), a program developed at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. The treatment is a diagnosis-specific manualized CBT treatment for adolescents with SAD. Semi-diagnostic interviews and questionnaires were completed at baseline, post, 3-month follow-up and 1-year follow-up.
Results
Thirteen adolescents participated with no drop-outs. Most families attended all 10 intervention sessions. The families were generally satisfied with the treatment and would recommend it to others in need. Preliminary outcomes showed that participants had marked improvements in their anxiety symptoms and life interference, with significant medium to large baseline-post effect sizes durable at 1-year follow-up. Two of the adolescents were free of their SAD diagnosis at 3-month follow-up.
Conclusion
Results from this feasibility study indicate that the Danish-translated and revised version of Cool Kids Anxiety Program - Social Enhanced could be a feasible intervention for Danish adolescents with SAD. The intervention will be investigated further in a randomized controlled trial.

Diagnosis-Specific Group CBT Treating Social Anxiety in Adolescents: A Feasibility Study

Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Background
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders among adolescents. It is associated with extensive distress and negative...

Diagnosis-Specific Group CBT Treating Social Anxiety in Adolescents: A Feasibility Study

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Aug 30, 2022

Page range: 89 - 101

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjcapp-2022-0010

Keywords
Social anxiety disorder, Adolescent, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Feasibility study

© 2022 Thea Nørregaard Agersnap, Esben Hougaard, Morten Berg Jensen, Mikael Thastum, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Diagnosis-Specific Group CBT Treating Social Anxiety in Adolescents: A Feasibility Study

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Aug 30, 2022

Page range: 89 - 101

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjcapp-2022-0010

KeywordsSocial anxiety disorder, Adolescent, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Feasibility study

© 2022 Thea Nørregaard Agersnap, Esben Hougaard, Morten Berg Jensen, Mikael Thastum, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Social anxiety disorder, Adolescent, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Feasibility study