Cognitive mediators of treatment for social anxiety disorder: comparing acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy

Andrea N Niles, Lisa J Burklund, Joanna J Arch, Matthew D Lieberman, Darby Saxbe, Michelle G Craske, Andrea N Niles, Lisa J Burklund, Joanna J Arch, Matthew D Lieberman, Darby Saxbe, Michelle G Craske

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship between session-by-session mediators and treatment outcomes in traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for social anxiety disorder.

Method: Session-by-session changes in negative cognitions (a theorized mediator of CBT) and experiential avoidance (a theorized mediator of ACT) were assessed in 50 adult outpatients randomized to CBT (n=25) or ACT (n=25) for DSM-IV social anxiety disorder.

Results: Multilevel modeling analyses revealed significant nonlinear decreases in the proposed mediators in both treatments, with ACT showing steeper decline than CBT at the beginning of treatment and CBT showing steeper decline than ACT at the end of treatment. Curvature (or the nonlinear effect) of experiential avoidance during treatment significantly mediated posttreatment social anxiety symptoms and anhedonic depression in ACT, but not in CBT, with steeper decline of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire at the beginning of treatment predicting fewer symptoms in ACT only. Curvature of negative cognitions during both treatments predicted outcome, with steeper decline of negative cognitions at the beginning of treatment predicting lower posttreatment social anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Rate of change in negative cognitions at the beginning of treatment is an important predictor of change across both ACT and CBT, whereas rate of change in experiential avoidance at the beginning of treatment is a mechanism specific to ACT.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00872820.

Keywords: acceptance and commitment therapy; cognitive-behavioral therapy; social anxiety disorder; treatment mechanism; treatment mediator.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Moderated mediation (A), mediation (B), and prediction (C) models tested.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Change in (A) Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and (B) Negative Self-Statements over sessions 2 through 10.

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