Premium
A Systematic Review of Mindfulness and Acceptance‐Based Treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder
Author(s) -
Norton Alice R.,
Abbott Maree J.,
Norberg Melissa M.,
Hunt Caroline
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22144
Subject(s) - mindfulness , psycinfo , psychology , anxiety , social anxiety , clinical psychology , psychological intervention , context (archaeology) , psychotherapist , systematic review , medline , meta analysis , cognitive therapy , cognition , psychiatry , medicine , paleontology , political science , law , biology
Context The cultivation of mindfulness and acceptance has been theoretically and empirically associated with psychological ancillary well‐being and has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of various disorders. Hence, mindfulness and acceptance‐based treatments (MABTs) have recently been explored for the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). This review aims to evaluate the benefits of MABTs for SAD. Methods Systematic review of studies investigating an MABT for individuals with SAD, using PsycInfo, Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Results Nine studies were identified. Significant improvements in symptomatology were demonstrated following the MABT, but benefits were equivalent or less than yielded by cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT). Limitations The few treatment studies available were compromised by significant methodological weaknesses and high risk of bias across domains. Studies were largely uncontrolled with small sample sizes. The hybrid nature of these interventions creates ambiguity regarding the specific utility of treatment components or combinations. Conclusions MABTs demonstrate significant benefits for reducing SAD symptomatology; however, outcomes should be interpreted with caution until appropriate further research is conducted. Furthermore, the benefit of MABTs above and beyond CBT must be considered tentative at best; thus, CBT remains best practice for first‐line treatment of SAD.