The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to find out whether the brief, 10-session Developmentally Oriented Cognitive Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder (DOCT-SAD) is more effective than standard counseling (SC) to treat Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) among 12 to 17-year-old adolescents with SAD. Potential participants for the study are identified from school health and well-being services (SHWS). The DOCT-SAD is delivered by method-trained school psychologists working in the SHWS. SC will be provided by non-method-trained SHWS professionals (i.e. school nurses, social workers or school psychologists) according to their routine counselling practice. The main research questions of the study are: 1. Is DOCT-SAD more effective than SC for alleviating symptoms of social anxiety? 2. Is DOCT-SAD more effective than SC to produce diagnostic remission from primary SAD and alleviating symptom severity associated with SAD? 3. Is DOCT-SAD more effective than SC for alleviating co-occurring depressive symptoms, interference in daily functioning due to worry or fears, and for increasing general well-being, positive mental health, and for improving the quality of life among adolescents with SAD? Researchers will compare DOCT-SAD with SC to see if DOCT-SAD is effective in the treatment of SAD in adolescents. Participants will: * be treated either with DOCT-SAD or SC for 10 weeks. * be followed up and assessed clinically at six-month and twelve-month follow-up points.
Age range
12 Years – 17 Years
Sex
ALL
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Self-reported social anxiety symptoms
Timeframe: From treatment startpoint to treatment endpoint (2,5 months), to 6-month follow-up point, and to 12-month follow-up point
Diagnostic status of SAD
Timeframe: From treatment startpoint to treatment endpoint (2,5 months), to 6-month follow-up point, and to 12-month follow-up point
Clinical severity of SAD symptoms
Timeframe: From treatment startpoint to treatment endpoint (2,5 months), to 6-month follow-up, and to 12-month follow-up