Psychodynamic therapy demonstrated no better outcomes than the waiting list. Although the study recruited a sample of students and the DSM criteria for social phobia were not. used in those days, Paul’s118 study suggests a significant positive effect of systematic desensitization, and a lack of effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy, in performance anxiety. Supportive therapy One trial119 dealt, with a comparison of ST with CBT. The aim of the trial was to study the effectiveness of CBT versus ST carried out, “as usual.” Sixty-seven DSM-IV Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical social phobic patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1 (CBT) received eight. 1-hour sessions

of individual CT for 6 weeks, followed by six 2-hour Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical sessions of SST in group weekly. Group 2 received ST for 12 weeks (six 30-minute sessions), and then the patients were switched to CBT. No medication was prescribed. At week 6, after CT, group 1 was better than group 2 on the main social phobia measure. At, week 12, after SST, group 1 was better than group 2 on most of the measures and demonstrated a significantly higher rate of responded. This finding was replicated after switching group 2 to CBT. Sustained improvement, was observed in Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical both groups at, follow-up. In summary, CBT was more effective than ST and had long-lasting effects. Sympathectomy

for ereuthophobia Endothoracic sympathectomy has been carried out. for the fear of blushing120 with a questionable rationale assuming that, emotional response is mainly a peripheral problem.121 Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Despite early claims of high rate of

success, follow-up studies were less optimistic: 67% of the patients had compensatory sweating, 50% gustatory Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical sweating, and Horner’s syndrome in 2.5%. Moreover, the number of initially satisfied patients declined over time from 98% to 66%. 122 The survey was made through a. simple questionnaire. There was no control group. It, is obvious that this is not. a treatment of choice for an anxiety problem related to a fear of blushing, more than to real blushing. Specific inhibitors phobias CBT methods for specific phobias Simple phobia is often considered out as a normal fear, like the fear of animals or of blood. Nevertheless, it. affects 7% of the general population. In some cases, anxiety and avoidance behaviors become a handicap severe enough to lead to consultation. Treatment, classically involves about 10 to 1.5 sessions of exposure and imagination and/or in vivo and cognitive restructuring. Outcomes There is a lack of controlled studies. In many controlled trials, simple phobias are often part, of mixed samples of phobic patients. Follow-up studies showed a 54% improvement from baseline, which is maintained at follow-up ranging from 1 to 5 years with BT.16 Early controlled studies of CT showed negative results.