Measuring the neglected anxiety disorder: validation of the social anxiety spectrum-short version (SHY-SV) questionnaire

Abstract

Background In the recent years, a growing body of literature stressed the importance of a dimensional perspective on mental disorders. In particular, since its conceptualization, one of the main concerns in the field of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) has been the definition of a diagnostic threshold, leading to the suggestion that SAD may be more properly classified as a spectrum of severity rather than a discrete disorder based on subjectively determined threshold. The purpose of the current research is to evaluate the psychometric qualities of the Social Anxiety Spectrum - Short Version (SHY-SV), a novel questionnaire designed to measure the complete range of social anxiety symptoms, from overt manifestations to subthreshold ones. Methods 42 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 43 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and 60 individuals without current or lifetime mental disorders (HC) were recruited from the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Pisa. Subjects were assessed with the SCID-5, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and the SHY-SV. Results SHY-SV showed strong internal consistency, and both the total and domain scores had great test-retest reliability. The Pearson’s coefficients for the SHY-SV domain scores ranged from 0.391 to 0.933, and they were positively and significantly correlated with one another (p 0.001). All the SHY-SV domain scores were highly correlated with the SHY-SV total score. Results from of the correlation coefficients between SHY-SV and alternative measures of SAD were all significant and positive. Significant differences among diagnostic groups on both SAD-SV domains and total scores were found. SAD-SV total score increased significantly and progressively from HCs, to the OCD up to the SAD group which showed the highest values. Conclusion The SHY-SV demonstrated significant convergent validity with other dimensional SAD measures, great internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. With an increasing score gradient from healthy controls to patients with OCD to those with SAD, the questionnaire performed differently in each of the three diagnostic categories.

Implications of Social Anxiety Symptoms in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There a Predictive Role of Interpersonal Sensitivity and Substance Abuse?

“…Both the total and domain scores had great test-retest reliability with all ICCs above the value of 0.90. The Pearson's coefficients for the SHY-SV domain scores ranged from 0.391 to 0.933, and they were positively and significantly correlated with one another (p 0.001) [50]. The questionnaire was developed as a shortened and updated version of the SHY-SR, the first questionnaire specifically designed as a dimensional approach to the social anxiety spectrum, which was proven useful in previous research [51].…”

“…The SHY-SV is a questionnaire designed by Dell'Osso et al [50] for the evaluation of the whole spectrum of social anxiety, including common manifestations, atypical symptoms, and personality traits, comprising 139 items organized in 5 domains (Interpersonal sensitivity, Behavioral inhibition, Performance, Social situations, and Substance Abuse) and one appendix (Childhood and adolescence). Each item's answers are coded in a dichotomous way (yes/no) and the scores relating to the individual domains and appendix are calculated by counting the number of positive answers.…”

Presence and correlates of autistic traits among patients with social anxiety disorder

“…The answers to the various items are coded in a dichotomous way (yes/no) and the scores relating to the single domains and appendices are obtained by counting the number of positive answers. The SHY-SV was developed by Dell'Osso et al (37); the validation study reported strong internal consistency, great testretest reliability and convergent validity with other dimensional measures of SAD.…”

“…The questionnaire had a high internal consistency, strong inter-rater reliability, and discriminant validity and throughout the years it has been employed in a variety of clinical contexts throughout the last few decades (7,33,35,36). However, due to the excessively long time for its compilation and some outmoded and superfluous items, recently its application in routine clinical practice has been difficult; for this reason, the same authors recently proposed a shortened and renewed version, the Social Anxiety Spectrum -Short Version (SHY-SV) (37).…”