Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Systemic Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorders in Adults (SOPHO-CBT/ST)
Project overview
How effective is systemic therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety disorder in adults? In our randomised controlled pilot study, we are investigating the reduction of social anxiety and the improvement of system-related, psychological, interpersonal and general levels of functioning. Moderators and mediators are patient- and therapist-related expectations and the therapeutic relationship.
We also ask how important attachment figures with and without involvement in the psychotherapy benefit from it and record changes in the psychosocial burden of significant others.
Further information
- Duration: 2014-2020
- Study locations: Institute for Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Heidelberg University Hospital; Centre for Psychological Psychotherapy, Heidelberg University
- Funding: German Society for Systems Therapy, Counselling and Family Therapy (DGSF), Systemic Society (SG), Heidehof Foundation, Cusanus-Werk
- Responsible: Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy III
Selected publications
- Hunger-Schoppe, C., Schweitzer, J., Hilzinger, R., Klewinghaus, L., Deußer, L., Sander, A., Bents, H., Mander, J. & Lieb, H. (2022). Integrative systemic and family therapy for social anxiety disorder: Manual and pilot randomised controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.867246
- Hunger, C., Hilzinger, R., Klewinghaus, L., Deusser, L., Sander, A., Mander, J., Bents, H., Ditzen, B., & Schweitzer, J. (2020). Comparing cognitive behavioral therapy and integrative systemic psychotherapy for social anxiety disorders: randomised controlled pilot trial (SOPHO-CBT/ST). Family Process, 59(4), 1389-1406, https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12492
- Hunger, C., Hilzinger, R., Bergmann, N., Mander, J., Bents, H., Ditzen, B., & Schweitzer, J. (2018). Psychosocial attachment stress in adult patients with social anxiety disorder: Efficacy study of cognitive behavioural therapy and systemic psychotherapy. Psychotherapist, 63(3), 204-212, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00278-021-00539-w
- Hunger, C., Schweitzer, J., & Hilzinger, R. (2016). If one has no fear, he has no imagination. Social anxiety, social anxiety disorders and system-therapeutic treatment options. Family Dynamics, 41(2), 2-15, https://elibrary.klett-cotta.de/article/99.120115/fd-41-2-100
Book (chapter)
- Hunger-Schoppe, C. & Retzlaff, R. (2024). Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. In E. Hermans & A. Beermann, Systemic psychotherapy for study and teaching. Heidelberg: Springer.
- Schweitzer, J., Hunger-Schoppe, C., Hilzinger, R., & Lieb, H. (2020). Social anxiety (Series: Treating disorders systemically). Heidelberg: Carl-Auer.
- Hunger, C. & Willutzki, U. (2019). Social anxiety disorders. In K. v. Sydow & U. Borst, Practice of systemic therapy (pp. 447-456). Weinheim: Beltz.
- Hunger, C. (2018). Cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety disorder: intra- and interpersonal aspects and clinical application. In Ö. Şenormanci & G. Şenormanci (Eds.), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Clinical Applications. InTechOpen.
Awards and honours
- 2018: Best abstract at the German Congress for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy (DKPM), together with the SOPHO-CBT/ST team
- 2017: Winner of the congress prize of the International Systemic Research Conference (ISR-HD; www.isr2017.com), together with Nikola Bergmann, Rebecca Hilzinger and Jochen Schweitzer
- 2013: Winner of the research grant of the German Society for Systemic Therapy, Counselling and Family Therapy (DGSF)
Project management
Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Christina Hunger-Schoppe
Chair holder
Faculty of Health (Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy) | Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy III
Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 44
58455 WittenRoom number: 1.124b
