Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42500313›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychiatry2026

Efficacy of digital interventions in social anxiety disorder: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Yang Li, Zeng-Yun-Ou Zhang, Li-Ping He, Xiao-Qiu Zhou, Bo Yu, Xue-Min Huang, Dan Yang, Deng-Mei Xia, Dan Wang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yang LiDepartment of Psychiatry, Sichuan Mental Health Center (The Third Hospital of Mianyang), Mianyang, China.
Zeng-Yun-Ou ZhangDepartment of Dermatology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China.
Li-Ping HeDepartment of Psychiatry, Sichuan Mental Health Center (The Third Hospital of Mianyang), Mianyang, China.
Xiao-Qiu ZhouDepartment of Psychiatry, Sichuan Mental Health Center (The Third Hospital of Mianyang), Mianyang, China.
Bo YuDepartment of Psychiatry, Sichuan Mental Health Center (The Third Hospital of Mianyang), Mianyang, China.
Xue-Min HuangDepartment of Psychiatry, Sichuan Mental Health Center (The Third Hospital of Mianyang), Mianyang, China.
Dan YangDepartment of Psychiatry, Sichuan Mental Health Center (The Third Hospital of Mianyang), Mianyang, China.
Deng-Mei XiaDepartment of Dermatology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China.
Dan WangDepartment of Psychiatry, Sichuan Mental Health Center (The Third Hospital of Mianyang), Mianyang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by a significant and persistent fear of social or performance situations. The prevalence of SAD has gradually increased recently, and the unique advantages of digital interventions (DIs) have gained traction in psychiatric disorders. However, there is currently no comprehensive review comparing the effectiveness of diverse DIs for SAD. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating DIs for patients with SAD were identified by searching the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from January 1, 1995, to March 31, 2025. The study protocol for this network meta-analysis was registered in Results: Forty-two RCTs were included. The results showed that DIs exerted better efficacy than non-digital interventions and wait-list controls (WLC). Different forms of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) demonstrated robust effects across all four outcomes. Internet-based cognitive therapy (ICT) yielded favorable effects in reducing social anxiety and depressive symptoms. VR showed relatively large effect sizes for improving quality of life. Conclusion: DIs can be recommended as adjunctive or combined treatments for SAD. Different forms of ICBT show consistent efficacy and can serve as the first-line option among digital interventions. We recommend promoting the application of DIs to expand treatment coverage for SAD and overcome the limitations of traditional psychotherapy. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251077835.

Indexed as

Bayesian network meta-analysisdigital interventioninternet-based cognitive behavioral therapysocial anxiety disordersystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42500313
PMCPMC13397225

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.