Clinical Trial Comparing Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Veterans With Social Anxiety Disorder and PTSD Symptoms

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy TBT compared to disorder-specific cognitive behavioral therapy CBT for Veterans with social anxiety disorder SAD who also have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of TBT in improving quality of life, psychological well-being, and social reintegration. This randomized controlled trial also looks at patient satisfaction and factors affecting attendance and treatment completion. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either TBT or CBT for SAD. Both treatments consist of 12 weekly individual psychotherapy sessions lasting 60 minutes each. TBT uses four types of exposure techniques tailored to different types of avoidance symptoms, while CBT for SAD includes psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposures, and termination. Therapists will be trained and supervised to ensure treatment fidelity, with sessions audio recorded and reviewed for quality. Veterans will complete assessments before, during, and after treatment, as well as at a 6-month follow-up. These include self-report questionnaires and diagnostic interviews conducted by blinded assessors via telehealth or in person. Researchers will track psychiatric symptoms, functional impairment, and treatment satisfaction. Attendance and homework completion will be recorded, and ongoing monitoring will help understand treatment progress and outcomes over time.

Comparing TBT to Disorder-Specific Psychotherapy in Veterans With Social Anxiety Disorder