Intervention effects of Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy on social anxiety among medical students

Objective To evaluate the intervention effects of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy on social anxiety among medical students,and to provide evidence and basis for the intervention treatment.Methods Thirty medical students with social anxiety were voluntarily divided into the one-to-one Internet-based intervention group and one-to-five internet-based intervention group which were intervened in form of single person or team respectively by using of cognitive behavioral therapy.The level and symptoms of social anxiety from the 2 groups were assessed before and after the intervention,3 and 6 months after the intervention,which were compared by using of Social Phobia Inventory(SPIN) and Social Anxiety Symptoms Interview Inventory.ResultsIt was found that SPIN scores in both groups were decreased dramatically after intervention compared with before.SPIN scores in the one-to-one intervention group declined most obviously.Three and six months after intervention,social anxiety level in the two intervention groups was much lower than before,and had no difference in results after interventions(P0.05).In the one-to-one intervention group,six months after intervention there was one participant with sub-threshold social anxiety still remained in sub-threshold social anxiety,and two participants with sub-threshold social anxiety changed into normal.In the one-to-five intervention group,six months after intervention one of the two participants with sub-threshold social anxiety changed into normal.ConclusionBoth of the intervention methods have persistent effects to decrease social anxiety level among medical students.The effect of one-to-one intervention therapy is the most significant.