Work

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Immigrants Presenting With Social Anxiety Disorder

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) has demonstrated efficacy in numerous randomized trials. However, few studies specifically examine the applicability of such treatment for ethnic minority clients. Thus, the purpose of this article is to present two case studies examining the utility of individualized CBT for SAD with two clients who immigrated to the United States, one from Central America and one from China, for whom English was not their primary language. Both clients demonstrated improvement on a semi-structured interview and self-report measures. Necessary adaptations were modest, suggesting that therapy could be conducted in a culturally sensitive manner without much deviation from the treatment protocol. Results are discussed in terms of adapting treatment to enhance acceptability for and better fitting the needs of ethnic minority clients and non-native speakers of English. Implications for treating ethnic minority clients, as well as the practice of culturally sensitive treatment, are discussed.

Source: Clinical Case Studies

DOI: 10.1177/1534650111420706

Authors: Brandon J. Weiss, J. Suzanne Singh, Debra A. Hope

Institutions: University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies

Language: English

Topic: Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health