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Impact of a Treatment Rationale on Expectancy and Engagement in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety

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Abstract

Although presentation of a treatment rationale is posited to enhance expectations for change, this contention has not been directly evaluated. In this analogue study, the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) rationale for social anxiety was presented via videotape by an experienced CBT therapist, to 77 undergraduate students with high fear of negative evaluation. Results indicated significant increases in self-efficacy for anxiety change, confidence in conducting interpersonal exposures, and perceived helpfulness of exposure, pre- to post-rationale presentation. A positive response to the treatment rationale was related to increased frequency of interpersonal exposure at one-month follow-up. Furthermore, individual differences in self-efficacy for anxiety change at baseline moderated the impact of rationale response on exposure frequency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Behavioral Sciences Building, Toronto, ON, Canada, M3J 1P3

    Mariyam Ahmed & Henny A. Westra

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  1. Mariyam Ahmed
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  2. Henny A. Westra
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Correspondence to Mariyam Ahmed.

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Ahmed, M., Westra, H.A. Impact of a Treatment Rationale on Expectancy and Engagement in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety. Cogn Ther Res 33, 314–322 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-008-9182-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-008-9182-1

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