Thirty two studies were included in this review. Participant numbers were not reported for all studies, but were at least 1,848. Study size ranged from six to 267 where reported.
Twenty-two studies were classified as Type 1 (high methodological quality). The authors reported that most were randomised controlled trials. Nineteen studies were included in the meta-analyses.
The following treatment met criteria for probably efficacious: individual CBT (four studies); group CBT (four studies); group CBT with parents (four studies); group CBT for social phobia (three studies); and social effectiveness training for children with social phobia (one study). Other treatments were classified as possibly efficacious or experimental.
Diagnostic recovery rates
CBT was associated with improved diagnostic recovery in 62 per cent of treated participants (95% CI: 46, 79) (20 studies). Results were similar for individual and group CBT and for interventions with and without parent involvement.
There was no significant difference in recovery rates between group and individual treatments for diagnostic recovery rates, anxiety or other symptoms and no difference between individual and group treatments with and without parental involvement.
Further supplementary analyses were reported.