Changes to core beliefs, shame and self‐compassion in cognitive behavioural therapy and imagery rescripting for social anxiety disorder

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Abstract
Objectives: Maladaptive core beliefs, shame and low self‐compassion are found to be highly correlated with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Design: The present study is a post‐hoc exploratory study examining the efficacy of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and imagery rescripting (ImR) on reducing these constructs following treatment. Methods: Seventy‐two participants participated in the study (Mage = 39.26; 62.5% female); 37 participants completed CBT and 35 participants completed ImR. Results: Strength of maladaptive core beliefs reduced from pre‐treatment to post‐treatment (CBT: d = .65; 95% CI: .17–1.11; ImR: d = .52; 95% CI: .04–.99) and pre‐treatment to 3‐month follow‐up (CBT: d = .63; 95% CI: .16–1.09; ImR: d = .51; 95% CI: .03–.98) in both treatments groups. Levels of shame reduced significantly from pre‐treatment to post‐treatment (CBT: d = .86; 95% CI: .38–1.33; ImR: d = .93; 95% CI: .43–1.41), and pre‐treatment to 3‐month follow up in both groups (CBT: d = .80; 95% CI: .32–1.26; ImR: d = .58; 95% CI: .09–1.05). Self‐compassion increased from pre‐treatment to post‐treatment (CBT: d = .78; 95% CI: .30–1.25; ImR: d = .67; 95% CI: .18–1.14) and pre‐treatment to 3‐month follow‐up in the CBT condition ( d = .71; 95% CI: .24–1.18), but not the ImR condition. Conclusion: These results suggested that both CBT and ImR improve outcomes on a number of non‐fear‐related constructs. This has important implications for the treatment of SAD.
Funding Information
  • Australian Psychological Society

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