Evaluación y tratamiento de un caso de trastorno de ansiedad social

Abstract

A single case study of CM, a 22-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, is reported. The reason for consultation was permanent and elevated anxiety response towards a negative evaluation made by others in social situations. All this anxiety was maintained by avoiding anxiogenic situations, which will be one of the main axes of the psycotherapy. Following the assessment, the social phobia diagnosis was established according to de DSM-5. Based on the diagnosis, a cognitive behaviour therapy was designed, which according to American Psychological Society (APA, 2013), is the most effective for this disorder. Sixteen intervention sessions of treatment were designed. Even though CM could not finish the treatment, a post-treatment evaluation took place in session number fourteen. In the post-treatment evaluation favorable changes were manifested in the patient’s problem, they were objectively verified and also appreciable in terms of changes in the daily life. However, there is still a social anxiety disorder that needs to continue being treated since the patient migration did not allow the termination of therapy. Results are presented and the alternatives are discussed for those situations where therapy has to be interrupted for various reasons so that it can be continued.