Assessing Client Progress Session by Session in the Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: The Social Anxiety Session Change Index

Authors

Sarah A. Hayes, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Nathan A. Miller, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Debra A. Hope, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Richard G. Heimberg, Temple University
Harlan R. Juster, New York State Department of Health

ORCID IDs

Debra A. Hope

Date of this Version

2008

Citation

Cogn Behav Pract. 2008 May 1; 15(2): 203–2011.

Comments

© 2008 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Frequent assessment during therapy can improve treatments and provide accountability. However, clinicians often do not monitor progress because of the time it takes to administer and score assessments. In response, the Social Anxiety Session Change Index (SASCI) was developed. The SASCI is a short, easily administered rating of subjective improvement that asks clients with social anxiety disorder how much they have changed since the beginning of therapy. Change on the SASCI was related to change in fear of negative evaluation, a core aspect of social anxiety, and to clinician-rated improvement, but not to ratings of anxiety sensitivity or depression. Because it is brief and easily interpretable, the SASCI can be used in a variety of clinical settings to monitor change across therapy. The SASCI is presented along with examples of how the information gathered from frequent administration can inform clinical practice.