Investigating the impact of negative effects during a smartphone-based treatment for social anxiety disorder : A correlational study

• Negative effects of psychological treatments constitute an important but largely unexplored area of research. Prior investigations have indicated that approximately 5-10% of all patients receiving face-to-face treatments deteriorate. In addition, other types of negative effects could exist as well, for instance, novel symptoms, social stigma, and interpersonal difficulties, but have been studied to a lesser extent. Meanwhile, negative effects are also assumed to occur in psychological treatments delivered online, but their incidence and impact is still unknown. In the current study, data collected from a smartphone-based treatment for social anxiety disorder (total N =189) was assessed in order to determine the influence of negative effects on treatment outcome. A new self-report measure for reporting negative effects was developed through a comprehensive literature search and a review of similar instruments for face-to-face treatments, consisting of sixty items scored on a five-point Likert-scale. Change from pre- to post-treatment assessment on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale was correlated with the frequency and impact of negative effects, indicating that the number of incidents, r = .175, and the degree to which the patient was affected by the negative effects, r = .192, were related to less change in symptom severity. However, no sociodemographic variables or degree of social anxiety at baseline had a relationship with negative effects during treatment. In terms of the most recurring types of negative effects, patients reported that they had a bad conscience about not conducting their assignments (Item 16), being stressed by the treatment schedule (Item 2), and feeling left out during treatment (Item 55).

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

smartphone-based treatment

social anxiety disorder

SAD

Psychology

psykologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)