Assessment and Treatment of Socially Phobic Children: A Cross Cultural Comparison

In this study we examined the psychopathology and behavioral treatment of White and African American preadolescent children with social phobia. The comprehensive assessment strategy, including semistructured diagnostic interviews, clinician ratings of impairment, behavioral observations, parental ratings, and self-report inventories, did not reveal differences in symptomatic presentation between African American and White children. Whereas all children improved from pre- to posttreatment, there were no significant differences based on race. The results are discussed in terms of the applicability of models 0of social phobia and treatment outcome across these 2 ethnic groups.