CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder Delivered by School Counselors

The investigators have tested SASS, a school-based group CBT intervention for social phobia, and found it to be effective when delivered by psychologists (Masia Warner et al., 2005; Masia Warner et al., 2007). The proposed dissemination study extends this work through a controlled trial of SASS delivered by school counselors. The investigators will randomize 126 adolescents with social anxiety disorder, ages 14 through 17, to one of 3 treatments: 1) SASS delivered by school counselors (SC-SASS), 2) SASS delivered by psychologists (Expert-SASS), or 3) a manualized adolescent group counseling program specifically designed for school counselors, called Skills for Living (SFL). A comprehensive evaluation will include diagnosis, illness severity, scale ratings of social anxiety and depression, clinical global improvement, overall functioning, and school-relevant indices of function. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, mid-point (after 6 weeks of intervention), post-treatment, and 6 months following intervention completion.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis. DSM-IV primary diagnosis (most severe) of social anxiety disorder (as determined by the ADIS-PC)
• Age and Sex. Boys and Girls, 14 through 19 years
• Grade. 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th
• English speaking. Adolescent

Exclusion criteria

• Current diagnosis of substance use or conduct disorder
• Concurrent mental disorder of greater severity than social anxiety disorder
• Current psychotic symptoms
• Current suicidal ideation
• Pervasive developmental disorder, or a significant medical disorder (e.g., substantially impairs functioning, school attendance, or the ability to engage in treatment)
• Current psychological or pharmacological treatment