Evidence-based Internet Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety

Summary

The objectives of the study are to 1) to translate and adapt iCBT Shyness Program to the Canadian context; 2) to examine the completion and effectiveness of the Canadian adapted, including the French translated and English iCBT Shyness Program, in improving SAD symptoms; 3) to explore barriers and facilitating factors to the program's implementation. The overall study design is a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study of a quasi-experimental parallel group trial reflecting real world pathways (recommended and self-referrals). The project will be conducted in two Canadian provinces: Quebec (Montérégie) and Ontario. Prior to implementing the iCBT Shyness Program, it will undergo an initial adaptation to the Canadian context and focus groups will be conducted with key actor groups to discuss the adaptations to the graphics, narration of the modules, and this to better reflect varying sociocultural context among Canadian French- and English-speaking populations. We will then evaluate the outcomes associated with the implementation of the program in a three-pathway parallel trial. As a last step to this trial, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with study participants and health care providers to explore facilitating factors and barriers to the implementation of the iCBT adapted program.

Conditions

• Social Anxiety

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Self-referred, undirected Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety

The Shyness Program is presented in the form of illustrated stories of a working woman and young man with SAD and their health professional (a psychologist). The program comprises six online lessons that teach core cognitive and behavioral principles and skills, including psychoeducation about the symptoms and treatment of SAD (Lessons 1-2); graded exposure and behavioral experiments (Lesson 3); cognitive restructuring (Lessons 4-5); relapse prevention (Lesson 6). The program also includes lesson summaries, homework assignments, and regular scheduled emails to support program users in applying the CBT skills themselves (N. Titov, Andrews, Schwencke, et al., 2008). It is recommended that modules are completed every 1 to 2 weeks with the full program completed within 90 days (see https://thiswayup.org.au/courses/the-social-anxiety-course/).

BEHAVIORAL

Recommended, undirected Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety

The Shyness Program is presented in the form of illustrated stories of a working woman and young man with SAD and their health professional (a psychologist). The program comprises six online lessons that teach core cognitive and behavioral principles and skills, including psychoeducation about the symptoms and treatment of SAD (Lessons 1-2); graded exposure and behavioral experiments (Lesson 3); cognitive restructuring (Lessons 4-5); relapse prevention (Lesson 6). The program also includes lesson summaries, homework assignments, and regular scheduled emails to support program users in applying the CBT skills themselves (N. Titov, Andrews, Schwencke, et al., 2008). It is recommended that modules are completed every 1 to 2 weeks with the full program completed within 90 days (see https://thiswayup.org.au/courses/the-social-anxiety-course/).

BEHAVIORAL

Recommended, directed Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety

The Shyness Program is presented in the form of illustrated stories of a working woman and young man with SAD and their health professional (a psychologist). The program comprises six online lessons that teach core cognitive and behavioral principles and skills, including psychoeducation about the symptoms and treatment of SAD (Lessons 1-2); graded exposure and behavioral experiments (Lesson 3); cognitive restructuring (Lessons 4-5); relapse prevention (Lesson 6). The program also includes lesson summaries, homework assignments, and regular scheduled emails to support program users in applying the CBT skills themselves (N. Titov, Andrews, Schwencke, et al., 2008). It is recommended that modules are completed every 1 to 2 weeks with the full program completed within 90 days (see https://thiswayup.org.au/courses/the-social-anxiety-course/).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Université de Sherbrooke

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-04

Primary Completion

2026-10-31

Completion

2026-12-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations