The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Psychodrama Group Therapy on Self-Focused Attention and Social Anxiety in Adolescent Girls: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: The objective of this research was to the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral psychodrama group therapy on self-focused attention and social anxiety in adolescent girls. Materials and methods: This research was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included all 9th-grade girls who were referred to health centers in Sirjan city in 2021-2022, and after screening using Puklek's social anxiety scale and Woody and Chambless' focus of attention scale, as well as a clinical interview based on DSM-5, twenty-four people from were selected and randomly included in two experimental groups (twelve people) and control (twelve people). After the pre-test, the experimental group received cognitive-behavioral psychodrama intervention for 120 miutes sessions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate covariance analysis using SPSS software    v. 24. Findings: Cognitive-behavioral psychodrama group therapy in the experimental group at the post-test and follow-up levels significantly reduced the average self-focused attention and social anxiety in adolescent girls with social anxiety disorder. Conclusion: The results showed the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral psychodrama treatment on social anxiety disorder and self-focused attention as one of the cognitive dimensions of this disorder for adolescents, and these results were maintained in the follow-up phase. It is suggested that methods such as cognitive behavioral psychodrama, which is a combination of psychodrama and cognitive behavioral therapy, be used in the treatment of social anxiety disorder due to the emphasis on both the theatrical and cognitive aspects of this disorder.