Low-intensity mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Shota Noda, Kentaro Shirotsuki, Mutsuhiro Nakao
BMC Psychiatry March 7, 2024 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05651-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Japanese undergraduate students with high social anxiety |
| Duration | Four sessions |
| Topics | Meditation Anxiety |
| Keywords | Cognitive–behavioral therapy Low-intensity program Randomized controlled trial Social anxiety |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | M-CBT improved negative cognition, fear of negative evaluation, mindfulness, depressive symptoms, and happiness but not social anxiety symptoms or self-focused attention. |
Abstract
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively improves the clinical symptoms of social anxiety disorder. However, there are non-responders who cannot decrease their cost/probability bias significantly; hence, their social anxiety symptoms remain unaddressed. Mindfulness training and cognitive-behavioral approaches promote a reduction in cost/probability bias and social anxiety symptoms. This study examines the effectiveness of a four-session program of mindfulness and CBT (M-CBT) in a non-clinical sample of individuals with high social anxiety. Participants were 50 Japanese undergraduate students (37 women and 13 men) randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 27) and a control group (n = 23). The intervention group underwent a four-session M-CBT program, while the control group did not receive any treatment. A group × time analysis of covariances showed significant interactions in the negative cognition generated when paying attention to others in probability bias, fear of negative evaluation by others, dispositional mindfulness, depressive symptoms, and subjective happiness. M-CBT also produced significant pre-post improvements in the above outcomes with moderate to high effect sizes (ds = .51-1.55). Conversely, there were no interactions in social anxiety symptoms and self-focused attention. These results indicate that M-CBT was effective for the negative cognition generated when paying attention to others in probability bias, fear of negative evaluation by others, dispositional mindfulness, depressive symptoms, and subjective happiness. The combination of mindfulness training with cognitive restructuring is proposed as potentially helpful for individuals with probability bias, leading to negative cognition from paying attention to others. University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN CTR) UMIN000036763. Registered May 16, 2019.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Effect of Qi-based mindfulness therapy for mild-to-moderate depression. World Journal of Psychiatry April 19, 2025
- A quasi-randomised pilot study on the efficacy and perceived usefulness of adding chemosignals to mindfulness practice for women with social anxiety. Scientific Reports September 12, 2025
Cites 15
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program Journal of Clinical Psychology March 6, 2009
- Loving-Kindness Meditation to Target Affect in Mood Disorders: A Proof-of-Concept Study Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015
- Low-Intensity Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: Pilot Study International Journal of Cognitive Therapy June 30, 2023
and 10 more in the library