P01-139 - Social anxiety among medical undergraduate students in Malaysia

Prevalence and predictors of social anxiety disorders among Malaysian secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the influence of internet gaming disorder and impulsivity

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) among Malaysian secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore its correlations with demographic variables, impulsivity behavior, and internet gaming disorder (IGD). A total of 1574 participants from 12 government secondary schools across five Malaysian states, comprising 569 males and 1005 females, completed an online questionnaire containing validated Malay versions of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale - Short Form. The findings revealed a notable SAD prevalence rate of 40.53% among Malaysian adolescents. Logistic regression analysis unveiled significant associations between SAD and factors such as attention impulsiveness (OR = 2.58, p < .001), motor impulsiveness (OR = 1.47, p = .03), female gender (OR = 2, p < .001), Malay ethnicity, and IGD (OR = 1.08, p < .001). In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the extent of social anxiety experienced by Malaysian secondary school students during the pandemic, shedding light on the demographic and psychosocial factors linked to its emergence. Furthermore, the research underscores a robust link between IGD and SAD, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions addressing both issues concurrently. By recognizing the multifaceted nature of these associations, future interventions can be tailored to provide holistic support for adolescents' mental well-being.

Brief cognitive behavior group therapy for social anxiety among medical students: A randomized placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare brief cognitive behavior group therapy (bCBGT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) to a credible placebo, psychoeducational-supportive therapy (PST), in a sample of medical students.

METHOD

This was a single-center, rater-blind, randomized, attention placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Participants were 50 consenting undergraduate medical students of a state government medical college in Cuttack, India having a primary diagnosis of SAD, who recieved 6 weekly 2-h group sessions. Assessments were carried out at baseline, post intervention and at two-month follow. Independent raters assessed the participants on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and Clinical Global Impression- Improvement scale (CGI-I). Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), a self-rated measure, was administered in the same periods.

RESULTS

bCBGT group improved significantly across periods from pre-treatment to post-treatment and from pre-treatment to two-month follow-up. bCBGT was statistically superior to PST at the post-treatment and follow-up assessments and showed large effect sizes at both post-treatment and follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

A 6-session bCBGT is an efficacious treatment for SAD among medical students. A longer follow-up and replication in other groups, and clinical settings are necessary for generalization to a broader SAD population.