Research demonstrates that group psychotherapy has positive effects in reducing symptoms of anxiety disorders such as Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD; Barkowski et al., 2016), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Panic Disorder (PD) in individuals (Barkowski et al., 2020). The group therapies presented here have a robust evidence base and were selected based on a meta-analysis that investigated the effectiveness of group therapy for anxiety disorders (Barkowski et al., 2020). For a study to be included, we considered systematic reviews and meta-analyses only, published from 1990 on with no restrictions on publication language and involving adult patients (>= 18 years) with a diagnosed anxiety disorder according to major classification systems. Additionally, studies must have been based upon a psychotherapeutic formal change theory, performed by a professional group leader or therapist in groups comprising at least three patients, lasting at least for five sessions.

Each disorder included had more than 2 trials given the amount of research attention anxiety disorders have received. One caution about the evidence is the inclusion of not randomized-controlled trials only which limits the establishment of causal associations and thereby the level of evidence (Zabor et al., 2020).

Although not originally intended for group therapy, some of the provided resources can be effectively utilized in a group setting. Furthermore, the page on promising therapies for anxiety disorders introduces additional treatment alternatives that have shown promising findings in ongoing research.