A hybrid model of social phobia: an analysis of social anxiety and related symptoms of anxiety

Abstract

The categorical underpinnings of the current diagnostic nomenclature have been the subject of repeated criticism. Recently, researchers have proposed several alternatives to the current system, including hybrid models of combined diagnostic categories and symptom dimensions. In the present study, we investigated the symptoms associated with a hybrid model of social phobia. The study included (a) the development of the initial set of symptom dimensions, generation of an item pool, and review by an expert panel, and (b) data collection and component analysis of the item pool to determine the structure of the symptoms. Six separate theoretically relevant symptom dimensions were identified. Implications of these findings on the development of a new hybrid model of social phobia were discussed.

Does Worrying Mean Caring Too Much? Interpersonal Prototypicality of Dimensional Worry Controlling for Social Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

“…Our conclusions about social anxiety in the clinical sample are interpreted with caution, given that only four participants were diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and the mean BFNE score was rather low. Furthermore, although the dimension of fear of social evaluation comprises a central feature of social anxiety, some recent models conceptualize social anxiety as a multidimensional construct involving features such as behavioral avoidance, anxiety sensitivity, and anhedonia (e.g., Gros, Simms, & Antony, 2011); future research should examine the interpersonal specificity of these constructs. Additionally, we did not control for familywise error in Study 2 given a small N when recruiting patients' significant others; we did so for the better-powered nonclinical sample (Study 1).…”

Clinical predictors of diagnostic status in individuals with social anxiety disorder

“…The measure consists of six subscales (αs = .72-.91) that assess a specific factor for the diagnostic category of social anxiety (behavioral avoidance, MASA-BA), and five nonspecific factors for related symptoms of anxiety: physiological arousal and avoidance (MASA-PA) thought avoidance (MASA-TA), anhedonia (MASA-ANH), functional impairment (MASA-FI), and coping with substances (MASA-CS). These scales have demonstrated adequate internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability in clinical and nonclinical samples [19,20,25]. 3.…”

“…(MASA) [19,25]. This 38-item self-report measure was used to assess specific and nonspecific symptom dimensions related to social anxiety, consistent with the hybrid model of social anxiety.…”

“…Researchers have proposed hybrid models of disorders that propose disorders to have shared symptom dimensions as well as disorder-specific symptoms. The hybrid model of SAD [19,20] suggests that this condition shares some symptoms with other anxiety and depressive disorders (e.g., avoidance of unpleasant thoughts, anhedonia, using substances for coping, and functional impairment) but the severity of SAD would be determined by relatively unique features (e.g., behavioral avoidance of situations, fear of negative evaluation). According to this model, which has been replicated across analog and clinical samples [19,20], patients with SAD and comorbid diagnoses should present with high levels of nonspecific symptoms, whereas patients with a principal diagnosis of SAD should present with the highest levels of disorder-specific symptoms.…”

Revisión de los procedimientos de evaluación observacional y cognitiva en población con ansiedad social

“…Así proponen dos tipos de autoconsciencia, una interna centrada en los aspectos personales y más íntimos de nosotros mismos (privada) y otra externa o pública: aspectos de uno mismo que son mostrados públicamente. Por otra parte, uno de los primeros modelos empíricos sobre las dimensiones de la ansiedad social identifi có los síntomas cognitivos como uno de los seis síntomas principales asociados a la ansiedad social (Gros, Simms, y Antony, 2011). Por ello, tal como apuntan Pinto-Gouveia, Cunha, y Salvador (2003) en la terapia cognitivo-conductual de fobia social es necesaria una evaluación integrada de la interacción social temida, de las situaciones de afrontamiento, así como de los comportamientos de seguridad y creencias de uno mismo y de los demás.…”