The Covideo Study - a Trial of Cognitive Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder in Youth, Comparing Screen to Office Delivery

The main goal of this clinical trial is to examine screen delivery as an alternative for offering cognitive therapy to youth with social anxiety. It will examine its effectiveness compared to office delivery, but also its acceptability and sustainability, and identify factors important for the outcome of this approach.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does screen delivery show comparable effectiveness to office delivery? Is screen delivery well accepted by youth and therapists? Does screen delivery show economic and climate sustainability? Do credibility and therapeutic alliance predict therapy outcome?

In the study researchers will compare screen delivery to office delivery of cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorders in 200 youth aged 14-18 years.

After an initial screening in schools, eligible youth are assessed with a diagnostic interview. Those meeting inclusion criteria will be offered either screen or office therapy. This is decided by random selection (a draw).

Participants will:

Complete an initial short screening questionnaire. Respond to a diagnostic interview online. Meet their therapist first time in person. Attend 14 weekly 90-minutes therapy session. Complete weekly questionnaires during the therapy. Answer interview and questionnaires after the therapy, and also 6 months, 2 years and 4 years later. Parents are also interviewed and informed of the study.