Effectiveness of web-based cognitive behavioral therapy for perfectionism in reducing symptoms of social anxiety disorder

This study examined the effectiveness of web-based cognitive behavioral therapy for perfectionism (WCBT-P) in reducing symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and indices of perfectionism in individuals with SAD. A total of 40 participants diagnosed with SAD and maladaptive perfectionism were randomly assigned to an intervention or waitlist control group. The intervention group received one online session per week for eight weeks, while the control group received no treatment. Outcome measures included the Social Phobia Inventory, Hewitt’s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale, assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up. Repeated-measure ANOVAs demonstrated significant reductions in social anxiety, maladaptive perfectionism, and the non-display and non-disclosure subscales of perfectionistic self-presentation in the intervention group compared to controls. These findings suggest that WCBT-P holds promise as an effective online intervention for addressing both SAD and perfectionism-related processes. Trial registration: IRCT20210522051365N1, registered on July 13, 2022.