scholarly journals The Role of Environmental Factors in the Aetiology of Social Anxiety Disorder: A Review of the Theoretical and Empirical Literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice R. Norton ◽  
Maree J. Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Peer Experiences ◽  
Current Article

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterised by a marked and persistent fear of social/performance situations, and a number of key environmental factors have been implicated in the aetiology of the disorder. Hence, the current article reviews theoretical and empirical evidence linking the development of SAD with parenting factors, traumatic life events, and aversive social experiences. Specifically, research suggests that the risk of developing SAD is increased by over-controlling, critical and cold parenting, an insecure attachment style, aversive social/peer experiences, emotional maltreatment, and to a lesser extent other forms of childhood maltreatment and adversity. Moreover, these factors may lead to posttraumatic reactions, distorted negative self-imagery, and internalised shame-based schemas that subsequently maintain SAD symptomatology. However, further research is necessary to clarify the nature, interactions, and relative contributions of these factors. It is likely that SAD develops via a complex interplay of biological and environmental factors, and that multiple aetiological pathways underlie the development of the disorder.

Changes in picturing of ‘self’ in social anxiety disorder: a case report

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuko Tanaka ◽  
Osamu Kobori ◽  
Michko Nakazato
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Case Formulation ◽  
Projective Drawing ◽  
Scale Scores

AbstractSocial anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by significant distress regarding social performance situations. Patients experience strong embarrassment about how they are perceived by others due to increased self-focused attention. This case report presents two cases of SAD and the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on ‘picturing of self’ (e.g. self-picturing and self-projection). The goal was to demonstrate the changes in ‘picturing of self’ using brief video feedback (VF) as a treatment and projective drawing as an assessment method of CBT, especially with SAD. The CBT consisted of psychoeducation and case formulation, cognitive restructuring, and behavioural experiments. In one case VF was used to provide additional means by showing the patient's own actual moving figure, the self-picture. For the other case, the patient was instructed to ‘draw a person’ and the changes in drawing style were assessed. Through the course of CBT, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale scores reduced significantly in both cases. ‘Picturing of self’ changed as a result of the use of CBT. Brief VF and projective drawing would be useful for individuals to see the change in themselves.

It hurts but I still need it: a qualitative investigation of post-event processing in social anxiety disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-369
Author(s):  
Naoki Yoshinaga ◽  
Kota Takaoka ◽  
Osamu Kobori
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Intermittent Reinforcement ◽  
Metacognitive Beliefs ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Do So

AbstractBackground:It has been proposed that both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs sustain engagement in post-event processing (PEP). However, it is unknown: (1) whether individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) actually derive the benefits from PEP that they expect; (2) if this is not the case, how their positive beliefs are maintained; and (3) if they are aware of the counterproductive effects of PEP, why they still perform PEP.Aims:To explore the phenomenology of the processes involved in PEP from the perspective of SADs, in order to address the research questions above.Method:Twenty-one participants suffering from SAD received individual semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.Results:Analysis revealed three main themes: (1) ‘Only, safe and useful way to improve myself’: SADs feel the need to improve their social performance, and they believe that PEP is the only, safe, and private way to do so, which is an underlying motive for them to do PEP; (2) ‘It hurts more than helps me’: however, through PEP, they do not seem to obtain the benefit that they expect, or only find a variety of counterproductive outcomes; (3) ‘Better safe than sorry’: they sometimes find makeshift solutions to improve their social performance during PEP, which may maintain their PEP as a form of intermittent reinforcement. They weigh up such costs and benefits, and choose to perform PEP while feeling conflicted about PEP.Conclusions:The results suggest that: (1) SADs rarely obtain the benefits from PEP that they expect; (2) their positive metacognitive beliefs are maintained by solutions they sometimes find during PEP; and (3) SADs choose to perform PEP while feeling conflicted; while PEP ironically maintains and exacerbates negative self-beliefs/images, it is the only safe and useful way to improve their social performance. These findings support and expand on the theories of PEP.

What determines observer-rated social performance in individuals with social anxiety disorder?

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 830-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Stevens ◽  
Mareike Hofmann ◽  
Sonja Kiko ◽  
Anna Katharina Mall ◽  
Regina Steil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Performance

scholarly journals Childhood maltreatment linked to greater symptom severity and poorer quality of life and function in social anxiety disorder

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 1027-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi M. Simon ◽  
Nannette N. Herlands ◽  
Elizabeth H. Marks ◽  
Catherine Mancini ◽  
Andrea Letamendi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
And Function

The Effectiveness of Drama Therapy on Decreasing of the Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder in Children

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Anari ◽  
P. Ddadsetan ◽  
B. Saleh Sedghpour
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Drama Therapy ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale ◽  
Experimental Group

The effectiveness of Drama therapy on decreasing of the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder (Performance Anxiety, Performance Avoidance, Social Anxiety & Social Performance Subtests) in 10-11 years old children was investigated in this study. 2 schools were randomly selected from elementary schools of Tehran city. First, Validation the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (Liebowitz, Klein & Masia-Warner, 2003) is done in one of that school; Then, in two schools, from 300 children ages 10-11, 32 children whose had received the highest scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA) were selected. Subjects were divided into control and experimental groups. Experimental group received Drama therapy intervention for 6 weeks, twice a week sessions lasting two hours. The results were analyzed using covariance and indicated the children in experimental group reported a significant decrease in symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder (Performance Anxiety, Performance Avoidance, Social Anxiety & Social Performance Subtests) as compared to the control group. In addition, in 3 month follow up, results had stabilized in experimental group as compared to the control group. The emerged findings can have clinical application in prevention and treatment of social anxiety disorder in children.

scholarly journals Childhood maltreatment and social anxiety disorder: implications for symptom severity and response to pharmacotherapy

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura C. Bruce ◽  
Richard G. Heimberg ◽  
Carlos Blanco ◽  
Franklin R. Schneier ◽  
Michael R. Liebowitz
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Symptom Severity

scholarly journals Repetitive Negative Thinking in Social Anxiety Disorder 2: Post-Event Processing

2016 ◽  
Vol a4 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel A. Sluis ◽  
Mark J. Boschen ◽  
David L. Neumann ◽  
Karen Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽  
Negative Thinking

Cognitive models of social anxiety disorder (SAD) emphasize post-event processing as a prominent maintaining factor that occurs after social-evaluative events. Post-event processing involves repetitive negative thinking revolved around perceived social failure. The present review concentrates on the relevant and available empirical literature on post-event processing in social anxiety which centres on Clarke and Wells (1995) theoretical framework. Correlational and experimental studies have investigated the relationship between post-event processing and the behavioural, physiological, cognitive and affective outcomes for socially anxious individuals. The majority of study designs include those investigating post-event processing in response to social-evaluative threat, and in response to treatment. Limitations of the existing literature are discussed and suggestions for future research examining the underlying cognitive functions of post-event processing are proposed.

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