Cases Of Social Phobia Research Articles

Nomophobia, phubbing and social phobia in Portuguese young adults and adults

IntroductionTo our knowledge there is no study exploring the interrelationship between nomophobia, phubbing and social phobia in Portuguese young adults and adults.ObjectivesTo explore the nomophobia, phubbing and social phobia levels, the interrelationship between these three constructs, in a sample of Portuguese young adults and adults.Methods316 subjects, with a mean age of 25.71 years old (SD = 8.231; range 18 - 59) fulfilled a sociodemographic questionnaire, and the Portuguese validations of the Nomophobia Questionnaire, the Phubbing Scale and the Social Interaction and Performance Anxiety and Avoidance Scale.ResultsAll the subjects presented nomophobia (100%, n = 316), with 62% (n = 196) presenting a moderate risk level and 22% (n = 69) an higher risk level. The mean of the ‘total phubbing score’ was of 21.50 (DP = 5.50) and ‘smartphone obsession’ was the phubbing subscale with an higher score (X = 12.81, DP = 3.50). The mean of the total nomophobia was of 80.0 (DP = 22.83) and ‘not being able to communicate’ was the nomophobia subescale with an higher score (X = 24.75, DP = 9.95).Considering social phobia scale, the mean of the ‘anxiety/distress’ subscale was of 95.36 (DP = 25.14) and of the ‘avoidance subscale’ was of 89.56 (DP = 25.53). Almost 22% (n = 69) of the subjects presented ‘social anxiety’ and 24% (n = 76) presented ‘social avoidance’, suggesting probable social phobia cases (higher than the proposed cut-off scores). Positive and significant correlations were found between all the nomophobia and phubbing subscales (ranging from .30** to .61**). Positive and significantly correlations, mostly with low magnitude, were found between nomophobia and social phobia subscales (ranging from .03** to .22**), except for ‘social avoidance’ subescale, which correlation was negative (-.021*). Females presented higher levels of nomophobia (Md = 176.28) and phubbing (Md = 167.22) than males (Md =124.73, U = 7301.500, p <.001;Md = 141.93), U = 9475.500, p= .019, respectively). Total social phobia scores and nomophobia (not being able to access information and giving up convenience subescales) were significantly higher in young adults.ConclusionsNomophobia, phubbing and social phobia are significantly intercorrelated. Future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify nomophobia and phubbing etiology. The level of nomophobia (100%) found in this sample is specially worrying.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

SENTIDO DE COHERENCIA E INTELIGENCIA EMOCIONAL: EFECTO EN LA ANSIEDAD SOCIAL DE ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS

Abstract.SENSE OF COHERENCE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: EFFECT ON SOCIAL ANXIETY OF COLLEGE STUDENTSThe aim of the study was to describe a sample of college students two key variables in health behaviors of individuals, such as the Antonovsky Sense of Coherence (SOC) (1971), and Perceived Emotional Intelligence (IEP) Mayer and Salovey (1990). In the sample of students possible cases of social phobia (FS) that may exist and trends to anxiety and social avoidance are analyzed. With these data, it aims to investigate the possible relationship between the SOC and the Social Phobia, and between it and the IEP. Outcomes among patients with Social Phobia and cases that did not, obtaining significant differences in mean SOC IEP and, these being lower in cases of FS were compared.Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Sense of Coherence, Social Anxiety.Resumen.El objetivo del estudio ha sido describir en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios dos variables fundamentales en las conductas de salud de las personas, como son, el Sentido de Coherencia de Antonovsky (SOC) (1971), y la Inteligencia Emocional Percibida (IEP) de Mayer y Salovey (1990). En la muestra de estudiantes se analizan los posibles casos de Fobia Social (FS) que puedan existir y las tendencias a la ansiedad y evitación social. Con estos datos, se pretende indagar en la relación que pueda existir entre el SOC y la Fobia Social, y entre ésta y la IEP. Se compararon los resultados entre los casos con Fobia Social y los casos que no la tenían, obteniendo diferencias significativas en las medias de IEP y SOC, siendo éstas inferiores en los casos de FS.Palabras Clave: Inteligencia Emocional, Sentido de Coherencia, Ansiedad Social.

Higher emotional intelligence is related to lower test anxiety among students.

BackgroundFor students attending university courses, experiencing test anxiety (TA) dramatically impairs cognitive performance and success at exams. Whereas TA is a specific case of social phobia, emotional intelligence (EI) is an umbrella term covering interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, along with positive stress management, adaptability, and mood. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that higher EI and lower TA are associated. Further, sex differences were explored.MethodDuring an exam week, a total of 200 university students completed questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, TA, and EI.ResultsHigher scores on EI traits were associated with lower TA scores. Relative to male participants, female participants reported higher TA scores, but not EI scores. Intrapersonal and interpersonal skills and mood predicted low TA, while sex, stress management, and adaptability were excluded from the equation.ConclusionThe pattern of results suggests that efforts to improve intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, and mood might benefit students with high TA. Specifically, social commitment might counteract TA.

Hypnosis Aided Fixed Role Therapy for Social Phobia: A Case Report

This case study details how hypnosis aided fixed role therapy (HAFRT) was employed in the successful treatment of a case of social phobia with a history of refractory outcomes to previous therapy trials. The treatment consisted of 10 office sessions, scheduled every two weeks, of HAFRT along with twice a day self-hypnotic sessions where the patient performed multiple visualization rehearsals of the vignettes that were successfully mastered in hypnosis during office visits. The results indicated that this patient was able to engage in social and professional affairs that were impossible prior to treatment. The patient retained the therapy gains at follow up 6 months later.

Task-dependent neural correlates of the processing of verbal threat-related stimuli in social phobia

The neural basis of abnormal processing of phobia-related linguistic cues in individuals suffering from social phobia is unknown, particularly in respect to different task conditions. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, this study investigated brain activation to phobia-related and phobia-unrelated words in 19 socially phobic patients and 18 healthy control subjects (HC) while subjects had to attend either to social meaning or to grammatical category of words (direct or indirect task). During the indirect task, patients, compared to HC, showed an increased activation of the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in response to phobia-related vs. phobia-unrelated words. Activation of the insula was positively correlated with patients' symptom severity during the direct task. The results suggest a specific role of the amygdala and OFC during the processing of verbal phobia-relevant distracting information. In contrast, insula activation seems to be more important for direct processing of disorder-related words, especially in more severe cases of social phobia.

Mental Disorders in Mexican Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Mental Disorders in Mexican Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

P01-116 - A Critical review of 30 social phobia cases or social anxiety disorder's recorded in a rural Indian clinic in 2009

IntroductionFear or phobia is an old & basic instincts that may be as old as mankind. Fear is cenrtal feature in numerous mental disorders like Schizophrenia, delusional disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and as the only distressing symptom in phobic anxiety disorder.ObjectivesAnatomical or physiological pathways of fear transmission also involves circuit that is primitive part of brain including amylgdolia, hippocampus, rhinenochephalon & papez circuit. In social phobia persistent & distressing anticipatory fears in the scenario where there is a chance of several strangers, or an imaginatory scrutiny by others in performnance/in appearance is so intense that the person avoid such situation or dreaded in enfronting such situations.AimsThis study is a clinical review of such cases seen very recently, & look into the patterns of their presentation.Methods30 cases those were diagonosed as social phobia as per diagnostic criteria of DSM-4TR & were seen in a district clinic 126k.m far from capitol town of Kolkata during the period 1st Jan-31stoct09 are taken here for consideration. 18 males & 12 females, all in the age group of 18-42 with a median average of 25 years, were recorded. There were Panic state mimcking distress to majority of patients who were present into gathering unknown to them or in some sort of performance like public delivery of speach on some subjects, or sing or even in imaginatory situation where scope of escape was not feasible.ResultsReliefs were partialy achived in 3 weeks of pharmacotherapy using clonazepam, SSRI/Paroxitine/Sertaline/fluvoxamine or TCA's clomipramine & behavior therapy.ConclusionsAn arena of further study.

Treating Avoidant Personality Disorder: The Case of Paul

Individuals with social phobia (social anxiety disorder) and avoidant personality disorder typically hold a distorted and negative view of themselves as a social object. The case of Paul, an extreme case of social phobia with avoidant personality disorder, illustrates the complex interrelatedness between the perception of social norms, interpersonal relationships, and the self. Considering these variables in treatment can translate into powerful intervention strategies. Paul’s therapy combined basic behavioral principles and novel cognitive intervention strategies to specifically modify his distorted sense of self as a social object. This intervention led to a dramatic improvement, which was maintained at a 1-year follow-up assessment.

Social phobia with sudden onset—Post-panic social phobia?

Overlap between social phobia (SP) and panic disorder (PD) has been observed in epidemiological, family, and challenge studies. One possible explanation is that some cases of SP develop as a consequence of a panic attack in a social situation. By definition, these cases of SP have sudden onset. It is hypothesized that patients with SP with sudden onset are more similar to patients with comorbid SP and PD than to patients with SP without sudden onset regarding age of onset, extraversion, and prevalence of anxiety symptoms. One hundred and eighty-two patients with a lifetime diagnosis of PD and/or SP were recruited as part of an etiological study. Patients with SP with sudden onset did, as hypothesized, differ from patients with SP without sudden onset with regard to age of onset and extraversion, but not with regard to symptoms. They did not differ markedly from patients with comorbid SP and PD. The concept of post-panic SP is discussed.

Performance Anxiety Among African-American College Students

This article examines the etiology of social phobia, and proposes that the sensitivity to self-scrutiny common to social phobics can be exacerbated by the effects of longstanding racial bias. The impact of racism on identity and the importance of context are explored as salient factors in the onset of a case of social phobia for an African-American woman at a prestigious university. The importance of attending to both overt and subtle forms of racism is illustrated within the typical cognitive-behavioral framework for the treatment of social phobia.

Social phobia in ultra-orthodox Jewish males: culture-bound syndrome or virtue?

Social difficulties of the performing variety are reported by ultra-orthodox male referrals to a psychiatrist in Jerusalem and confirmed by key communal informants. Three cases of social phobia are presented, and the content concerns performing, either speaking on religious matters publicly, a role associated with status and authority, or leading prayers and ceremonies, a role of sanctity and duty. The absence of women sufferers may be understood as a consequence of the value placed on modesty in women and there being no expectation of women to participate in study and public prayer, while the absence of complaints of interactional social phobia may be a consequence of the general discouragement of social intercourse not related to religious study. Aymat zibur, literally meaning fear of the community, is a term used by ultra-orthodox Jews to describe these fears of performance, although in its original meaning the term expresses the respect that the leader of prayers is expected to have for his awesome role. The cases described, however, were motivated by personal shame, similar to social phobia of the performance variety found in other cultures, rather than fear and respect. The values of ultra-orthodox religious life are presented that invest a person who avoids interactional social behaviors with the status of zaddik (a righteous person) while one who avoids the performance behaviors of speaking publicly on religious matters or leading prayers suffers from an idiom of distress in this particular society. Religious law and societal mores appear to be critical factors in deciding whether symptoms of social phobia are perceived and experienced as idioms of distress.

A case of social phobia and avoidant personality disorder with erectile dysfunction successfully treated with venlafaxine and add-on reboxetine

A 25-year-old man with DSM-IV-TR Axis I social phobia and Axis II avoidant personality disorder and erectile dysfunction, presenting with depression, anxiety and insomnia, responded partially to extended release oral venlafaxine (75 mg/die for 6 weeks), but developed side effects and worsening symptoms when dose was increased to 150 mg/die; he responded to a combination of 75 mg/die venlafaxine and 4 mg/die reboxetine and improved on most of his symptoms.

A case of social phobia and avoidant personality disorder with erectile dysfunction successfully treated with venlafaxine and add-on reboxetine

A 25-year-old man with DSM-IV-TR Axis I social phobia and Axis II avoidant personality disorder and erectile dysfunction, presenting with depression, anxiety and insomnia, responded partially to extended release oral venlafaxine (75 mg/die for 6 weeks), but developed side effects and worsening symptoms when dose was increased to 150 mg/die; he responded to a combination of 75 mg/die venlafaxine and 4 mg/die reboxetine and improved on most of his symptoms.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy in Two Cases of Anxiety Disorder

Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been consistently supported as highly efficacious in the management of various anxiety disorders, a significant number of individuals fail to respond to treatment. In this article, the authors present an attempt to operationalize and implement alternative interventions in two cases of CBT non-responsiveness for anxiety management. Both cases were identified as CBT nonresponsive through repeated psychometric assessment of symptoms, and the focus of therapy was shifted to motivational enhancement techniques. These alternative interventions were conceptualized using the Stages of Change Model, which advocates stage-matched interventions based on individual differences in readiness for change. In the first case of generalized anxiety disorder, motivational enhancement interventions were associated with marked improvement in anxiety symptomatology, whereas the second case of social phobia failed to respond to these interventions. Discussion is focused on possible mediators of differential treatment response to motivational interventions with a view to proposing future application and evaluations of these novel techniques.

The spectrum of social phobia in the zurich cohort study of young adults

Background: The goals of the present study are to describe the prevalence, risk factors, course, and impact of social phobia in a 15-year prospective longitudinal community study; and to examine an expanded conceptualization of social phobia with respect to clinical indicators of severity, as well as gender differences, personality traits, and stability over 15 years. Methods: The sample is a cohort of 591 young adults aged 18–19 from the general population of Zurich, Switzerland at study entry who have been followed to age 35. Results: Six percent of participants met lifetime criteria for social phobia at the diagnostic level, 12% at the subthreshold level, and 24% had social phobia symptoms alone. Women had higher lifetime rates of diagnostic and subthreshold-level social phobia, whereas there was an equal gender ratio of social phobia symptoms. There was a direct association between strictness of the diagnostic threshold and severity, such that work impairment, social impairment, treatment rate, medication use, and subjective distress decreased from the diagnostic to the symptom level. Similarly, family history of phobias, autonomic lability, and comorbidity decreased across the spectrum. Although there was a substantial degree of longitudinal stability at each level of the spectrum, significant oscillation across levels suggests that the spectrum concept better characterizes the longitudinal course of social phobia. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the utility of the social phobia spectrum. Application of the spectrum concept provides coverage of treated but undiagnosed cases of social phobia as well as those who vacillate across the diagnostic threshold over time.

Disability and quality of life in pure and comorbid social phobia. Findings from a controlled study

Social phobia is increasingly recognized as a prevalent and socially impairing mental disorder. However, little data is available regarding the general and disease-specific impairments and disabilities associated with social phobia. Furthermore, most studies have not controlled for the confounding effects of comorbid conditions. This study investigates: (a) the generic quality of life; (b) work productivity; and, (c) various other disorder-specific social impairments in current cases with pure ( n = 65), comorbid ( n = 51) and subthreshold ( n = 34) DSM-IV social phobia as compared to controls with no social phobia (subjects with a history of herpes infections). Social phobia cases reported a mean illness duration of 22.9 years with onset in childhood or adolescence. Current quality of life, as assessed by the SF-36, was significantly reduced in all social phobia groups, particularly in the scales measuring vitality, general health, mental health, role limitations due to emotional health, and social functioning. Comorbid cases revealed more severe reductions than pure and subthreshold social phobics. Findings from the Liebowitz self-rated disability scale indicated that: (a) social phobia affects most areas of life, but in particular education, career, and romantic relationship; (b) the presence of past and current comorbid conditions increases the frequency and severity of disease-specific impairments; and, (c) subthreshold social phobia revealed slightly lower overall impairments than comorbid social phobics. Past-week work productivity of social phobics was significantly diminished as indicated by: (a) a three-fold higher rate of unemployed cases; (b) elevated rates of work hours missed due to social phobia problems; and (c) a reduced work performance. Overall, these findings underline that social phobia in our sample of adults, whether comorbid, subthreshold, or pure was a persisting and impairing condition, resulting in considerable subjective suffering and negative impact on work performance and social relationships. The current disabilities and impairments were usually less pronounced than in the past, presumably due to adaptive behaviors in life style of the respondents. Data also confirmed that social phobia is poorly recognized and rarely treated by the mental health system.

Incidence of DIS/DSM-IV social phobia in adults.

The aim of the study was to estimate the incidence of social phobia in the general population. The Baltimore cohort of 3481 subjects, sampled during the 1981 Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, was traced. A total of 1920 subjects were re-interviewed from 1993 to 1996 using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). A subsample of 349 subjects was interviewed by psychiatrists using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. The estimated incidence of DIS/DSM-IV social phobia is 4-5/1000/year. New cases were found in all age groups, with the highest rates in subjects with baseline depressive and panic disorders. Psychiatric evaluations showed broad diagnostic concordance with DIS diagnoses in incident cases. However, validity indices were highly dependent on diagnostic thresholds. None of the psychiatrist-ascertained social phobics had received treatment for the disorder, although the majority were considered likely to benefit from treatment. New cases of social phobia occur in adults of all age groups, and are often secondary to other psychiatric conditions.

Disability and quality of life in pure and comorbid social phobia – Findings from a controlled study

Social phobia is increasingly recognized as a prevalent and socially impairing mental disorder. However, little data is available regarding the general and disease-specific impairments and disabilities associated with social phobia. Furthermore, most studies have not controlled for the confounding effects of comorbid conditions. This study investigates: (a) the generic quality of life; (b) work productivity; and, (c) various other disorder-specific social impairments in current cases with pure ( n = 65), comorbid ( n = 51) and subthreshold ( n = 34) DSM-IV social phobia as compared to controls with no social phobia (subjects with a history of herpes infections). Social phobia cases reported a mean illness duration of 22.9 years with onset in childhood or adolescence. Current quality of life, as assessed by the SF-36, was significantly reduced in all social phobia groups, particularly in the scales measuring vitality, general health, mental health, role limitations due to emotional health, and social functioning. Comorbid cases revealed more severe reductions than pure and subthreshold social phobics. Findings from the Liebowitz self-rated disability scale indicated that: (a) social phobia affects most areas of life, but in particular education, career, and romantic relationship; (b) the presence of past and current comorbid conditions increases the frequency of disease-specific impairments; and, (c) subthreshold social phobia revealed slightly lower overall impairments than comorbid social phobics. Past week work productivity of social phobics was significantly diminished as indicated by: (a) a three-fold higher rate of unemployed cases; (b) elevated rates of work hours missed due to social phobia problems; and, (c) a reduced work performance. Overall, these findings underline that social phobia in our sample of adults, whether comorbid, subthreshold, or pure was a persisting and impairing condition, resulting in considerable subjective suffering and negative impact on work performance and social relationships. The current disabilities and impairments were usually less pronounced than in the past, presumably due to adaptive behaviors in life style of the respondents. Data also confirmed that social phobia is poorly recognized and rarely treated by the mental health system.

The cross-national epidemiology of social phobia: a preliminary report

We present a preliminary report on cross-national rates, age at onset, comorbidity, suicide attempts and symptom profiles of social phobia. These data are based on epidemiologic community surveys using similar methods from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Korea. The lifetime rate of social phobia (cases per 100 persons) varies by country, from 2.6 in the United States to 0.5 in Korea. Rates are higher in females than in males in all countries. The age of onset for any phobia is mid-teens to early twenties, and social phobia usually has its first onset before other psychiatric disorders. Only a third or fewer cases of social phobia are uncomplicated by another psychiatric disorder. The presence of social phobia increases the risk of suicide attempts in persons with any other psychiatric disorder. Symptom profiles vary by country. Our data indicate consistent patterns but different cultural expressions of social phobia in the countries studied. The early age of onset of social phobia followed subsequently by another psychiatric disorder raises the possibility that early treatment of social phobia could prevent the onset of other psychiatric disorders.

In the Field: Cognitive Therapy in Egypt

Egypt is a country recognized for having one of the oldest civilizations known. In fact, many secrets have emerged from the culture over the millennia, particularly with regard to the philosophies of life and methods for health and longevity. Despite the many advances made by ancient and modern Egyptian civilization, the Egyptians have only recently begun to generate interest in cognitive therapy (CT)-something that they find to be very promising. Historically, Egypt has maintained a strong biological orientation to psychiatry with psychologists espousing traditional behavioral therapy. This continued for many years until just recently, when both psychiatrists and psychologists have demonstrated great enthusiasm over the work of Aaron T. Beck and colleagues. After several years of correspondence with a number of psychiatrists at the Institute of Psychiatry at Ain Shams School of Medicine, I was honored to be the first cognitive therapist to actually present on the treatment of anxiety and depression in Cairo in June of 1995. This invitation came as a result of interest generated by my co-edited volumes with Arthur Freeman (Freeman & Dattilio, 1992; Dattilio & Freeman, 1994) as well as by several other articles and chapters published on CT internationally. While in Egypt, I found my professional colleagues eager to learn methods for applying the techniques of CT to their diverse patient populations. As in the United States and other countries throughout the world, Egyptian mental health professionals encounter large numbers of depressive disorders, schizophrenia and substance abuse. Many of these disorders involve anxiety with some free-standing disorders of anxiety, primarily panic and agoraphobia. There are also some cases of social phobia as well, however, these individuals are less prone to present themselves for treatment. One of the areas of difficulty in applying CT within the Egyptian culture is the notion of Schema and automatic thoughts. Very often, patients contend that they are not in touch with their thoughts and exert efforts to avoid them. It is much easier for them to deal with their guilt or fear of violating their religious beliefs by simply sidestepping their thoughts about it. Therefore, patients are reluctant to challenge their cognitions, particularly since they may run the risk of questioning tradition and causing conflict with their value system. Interestingly enough, however, this dilemma is compounded by many patients' refusal to take medications for their depression and anxiety as well as by pregnant women or individuals who simply maintain metabolisms that are intolerant to medication. As a result, many are now seeking new alternatives to treatment. There are several aspects about CT that appeal to the Egyptians. For one, it is a short-term effective approach which is important to them since Egyptians are not prone to remain in therapy very long. …