الفهرس 
Introduction to the studyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 340 |  |  |
| | | from | 340 | | |
Abstract
Social phobia (SP) or social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the psychiatric disorders which is characterized by physiological symptoms caused by anxiety when entering social interaction situations (SIS) (National Health Service (NHS, 2021). These symptoms obstruct patients’ lives which weaken their ability to enter into SIS, generate emotional and behavioral symptoms, and therefore patients find it difficult to enjoy themselves in public places (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2018; NHS, 2021). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5, 2013) describes SP as a condition that influences the quality of life. Varlet et al. (2014) and NHS, (2021) reported patients with SP cannot relax when around people. In spite of a better understanding of SP still some studies indicate that cognitive behavioural group therapy (CBGT) is the optimal therapy so far for the treatment of social phobia. Little attention has been paid to examine other kind of psychotherapy to limiting or controlling these symptoms. The application of group psychotherapy (A) and biofeedback therapy (B) for SP has been seldom reported before; therefore the goal of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of group psychotherapy and biofeedback therapy during training on social interactions to limit and control symptoms of Social Phobia. This was carried out by taking pre and post measures of psychometric degree (SD), to group psychotherapy and biofeedback therapy during social interaction situations (speaking in public) in a group of patients suffering from Social Phobia. In addition, was taking pre and post measures of physiological responses (heart rate HR), to biofeedback therapy during social interaction situations (speaking in public) in a group of patients suffering from Social Phobia. The hypothesis was that there would be statistically significant differences between group psychotherapy and biofeedback therapy in reducing symptoms of social phobia when faced with social interaction situations (speaking in public) before and after treatment. Subjects classified as having severe SP (n = 30) between 15-60 years of age who suffer from social phobia in Khartoum, Sudan. 10 patients underwent group psychotherapy procedures for SP symptoms via the treatment program of group psychotherapy, completed a social phobia questionnaire for psychometric degree, and a semi-structured clinical interview for diagnosis that met DSM-5 criteria. 10 patients underwent biofeedback procedures for SP symptoms and physiological responses (HR) via the treatment program of biofeedback, a heart rate monitor device, completed a social phobia questionnaire for psychometric degree, and a semi-structured clinical interview for diagnosis that met DSM-5 criteria. 10 patients with SP for control group did not undergo treatment. The data after 10 sessions for each group were analyzed using paired T- Tests, analysis of variances (ANOVA), and analysis of covariance. The results showed that there were differences of statistical significances pre-treatment to post-treatment reduction in SP symptoms, and HR response for both group psychotherapy and biofeedback therapy. While contrary to our hypothesis, there were no differences of statistical significances (p = 0. 720) between group psychotherapy and biofeedback therapy in reducing symptoms of social phobia. However, the Analysis of Covariance for the levels of social phobia between the two experimental groups shows that there were superiority to biofeedback in the levels of SP after treatment (p.= 0.000). There was reduction in SD for group A (p = 0.000), group B (p = 0.000) and in HR for group B (p = 0.000). These results provided evidence that group psychotherapy and biofeedback therapy are effective treatment in reducing SD and HR of SP. Future research with other treatment is needed.