Social Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is highly prevalent and is associated with significant impairment. This chapter reviews theoretical models of the disorder, as well as empirically supported cognitive behavioral strategies, in an effort to inform evidence‐based practice. Treatments reviewed include group and individual cognitive behavioral therapy, Internet‐delivered and brief cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness‐ and acceptance‐based therapies, attention bias modification programs, and combinations of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication treatments. In addition, this chapter highlights factors influencing treatment outcome.

Social anxiety apps: a systematic review and assessment of app descriptors across mobile store platforms

“…Apps were included if they satisfied five inclusion criteria:1 the keywords ‘social anxiety’, ‘social phobia’, ‘phobia’ or ‘shyness’ in the title or app description2 explicitly specified the purpose was education/symptom monitoring assessment/management/support/therapy or a combination of these3 a focus on social anxiety or that social anxiety was one of the main aspects of app content4 used an English language interface; and5 were not in electronic book format. Apps were excluded if they did not provide sufficient information, had no clear focus on social anxiety, included the keywords in an unrelated context (eg, specific phobias or purely entertainment games) or were duplicates within the same store, but not between stores.…”

“…Social anxiety disorder is characterised by chronic fear and avoidance of social engagement, scrutiny by others and social withdrawal to avoid feelings of embarrassment and humiliation 1. It is highly prevalent and associated with major personal, social and economic burden 1–3.…”

An open trial of mindfulness‐based stress reduction for young adults with social anxiety disorder

“…Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by “a marked, or intense, fear or anxiety of social situations in which the individual may be scrutinized by others” (American Psychiatric Association, , p. 203). Individuals with SAD report strong fears of being negatively evaluated by others or doing something humiliating, which often leads in excessive self‐focused attention, negative self‐evaluation and emotional dysregulation in social situations (Bruce & Heimberg, ; McGinn & Newman, ). Due to these experiences, individuals with SAD often suffer through or avoid social situations, leading to significant personal distress and functional role impairments in intimate relationships, educational attainment and work employment (Lecrubier, Wittchen, Faravelli, Bobes, Patel & Knapp, ).…”

Avaliação da efetividade de um modelo da terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupos para transtorno de ansiedade social: ensaio clínico randomizado

“…Além disso, cognitivamente, a exposição proporciona uma oportunidade de testar feedbacks relacionados às situações fóbicas, testando pensamentos e crenças relacionados as mesmas, facilitando a reestruturação de crenças desadaptativas e possibilitando a reestruturação cognitiva. Esta tem como objetivo desenvolver a habilidade de reavaliar o nível de ameaça presente nas situações temidas, bem como reavaliar os pensamentos eliciados (Bruce & Heimberg, 2013). Complementarmente, a exposição se mostra ainda mais efetiva quando os pacientes são instruídos a evitar os comportamentos de segurança e concentrar sua atenção totalmente na experiência (Wells, Clark, Salkovskis & Ludgate, 1995).…”

“…Outro estudo que comparou dois processos psicoterápicos específicos para TAS, sendo um deles TCCG e o outro uma forma de psicoterapia individual, evidenciou que ambas as formas de tratamento demonstraram eficácia na redução dos sintomas relacionados a ansiedade social e também nos sintomas de ansiedade geral (Bjornsson et al, 2011;Filion-Rosset, 2004 (Bruce & Heimberg, 2013). Nesse estudo não foi possível fazer essa forma de análise estatística tendo em vista que o tamanho amostral não seria suficiente (somente sete participantes do grupo submetido à intervenção não apresentavam comorbidades).…”