A study on the effect of the group interpersonal psychotherapy in the regulatory emotional self-efficacy of social phobia adolescents

Objective To discuss the regulatory emotional self-efficacy (RESE) of social phobia in adolescents, analyze the correlation between the RESE and the syndromes of social phobia, and observe the pre-post change in the RESE after group interpersonal psychotherapy. Methods Patients were recruited from July to August, 2016, by outpatient clinics at the Psychiatric Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Wen zhou Medical University. Patients were diagnosed as "social phobia" by the psychiatrist. They were randomly divided into placebo group and treatment group.The treatment group and the placebo group were both assessed with the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, the RESE Questionnaire before and after 12 weeks treatment. Results On the perceived self-efficacy in expressing positive affect (POS) dimension, the score was (13.91±3.2). On the perceived self-efficacy in managing despondency/distress (DES) dimension, the score was (9.80±3.25). On the perceived self-efficacy in managing anger/irritation (ANG) dimension, the score was (9.77±3.96). The POS was significantly negatively correlated with the social avoidance and distress total scores (P<0.05). The POS was significantly negatively correlated with social avoidance (P<0.05). The DES was significantly negatively correlated with the social avoidance and distress total scores (P<0.05), social avoidance (P<0.05) and the social anxiety (P<0.05). The ANG was significantly negatively correlated with the social avoidance and distress total scores (P<0.05), social avoidance (P<0.05) and the social anxiety (P<0.05). After therapy, POS was significantly improved (P<0.05). In the placebo group, there was no significant change in RESE (P>0.05). After therapy, there was significant difference between the treatment group and the placebo group in POS (P<0.05). Conclusion The level of the RESE of the social phobia adolescents is low. There is significant correlation between the RESE and the syndromes of social phobia. The RESE is significantly improved after the group interpersonal psychotherapy.