What works when treating adolescent social fears?

We propose to compare the therapeutic efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy with acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion focused therapy, and of single behavior and cognitive therapy. Individual change in diagnostic criteria and self-report scores, along with mean group level change in self and other-reported symptomatology will be considered for each intervention in comparison with a control group, between multi-component interventions and between single-component interventions. All interventions are expected to decrease social fears and other associated variables, at post intervention and up to six months. Mediators of change (i.e., which variables mediate change in each specific intervention, and across time) will also be explored, as well as moderators of change (i.e., participants’ markers that may be relevant to the outcomes). Results will provide evidence on which form of intervention may be the optimal choice in general, leading to particular change processes which in turn target specific vulnerabilities associated to social fears.