Specific Social Phobia Research Articles

Why do Chinese women experience gamophobia? Psychoanalytic theory assisted discourses analysis.

Social media is currently abuzz with discussions about the topic of women's gamophobia in China. Nevertheless, there is few research investigating gamophobia from a psychological perspective. This study utilizes content analysis and sentiment analysis to examine and analyze 879 individuals' texts about gamophobia on Little Red Book and uses psychoanalytic theory, which is centered on comprehending and interpreting the psychological processes of the human mind, to investigate the elements that contribute to women's gamophobia, aiming to address this knowledge gap. This investigation revealed that gamophobia might exert physical, psychological, and several other effects on individuals. This study employs a psychoanalytic framework and concludes that the rise of independent consciousness, many unhappy marriages in their environment, anxiety about dealing with unfamiliar family relationships, pursuit of personal and professional development, original family issues, changing perceptions of aging care, the media effect, the concept of parenthood, and criteria for choosing a life partner are the nine primary factors contributing to women's gamophobia. To address the societal issues and outcomes resulting from a fear of marriage, it is advisable for those who experience this phobia to examine their negative defensive mechanisms and prioritize rational thinking in their mindset. Moreover, the Government should establish a social atmosphere that ensures women are neither influenced nor constrained by the media. Furthermore, promote holistic family education to bolster the self-awareness and prospective family comprehension of young individuals. Finally, government departments should also offer promotion and supporting measures to help assuage women's concerns about marriages.

Exploring Contemporary Chinese Women's Views on Love, Marriage, and the Fear of Marriage

The institution of marriage has undergone significant changes throughout history, and in recent times, there has been a noticeable shift among women towards prioritizing love and personal fulfillment as key factors influencing their decision to marry. As women's education has advanced, there has been a corresponding decrease in the rate of marriage to a certain degree. Nevertheless, a discernible pattern has emerged wherein modern women are increasingly articulating apprehension towards the institution of marriage, citing a multitude of factors including familial obligations, economic encumbrances, and the potential curtailment of individual autonomy. This study employs a literature review method to examine the various aspects that contribute to the phenomenon of marriage apprehension among women in modern society. Specifically, it investigates the evolving perspectives of women towards love, marriage, and cultural norms as key determinants of this anxiety. The primary objective of this study is to examine women's perspectives on marriage and the factors contributing to their decision to remain unmarried. By doing so, this research aims to shed light on prevailing societal issues and the unrealistic societal expectations and demands placed on women in Chinese culture.

Analysis of the Reasons for Contemporary Young Women's Fear of Marriage and Pregnancy—Based on Bengbu

Analysis of the Reasons for Contemporary Young Women's Fear of Marriage and Pregnancy—Based on Bengbu

Do Metacognitions of Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders Change after Intensified Exposure Therapy?

Metacognitive beliefs have repeatedly proven to play a role in anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, but few studies have investigated whether they change after cognitive behavioral therapy. This longitudinal intervention study explores whether positive and negative metacognitive beliefs in particular change after exposure-focused treatment, and if metacognitive changes predict reductions in anxiety symptoms. A sample of 27 children between 8 and 16 years of age with a primary diagnosis of specific phobia, separation-anxiety disorder or social phobia completed assessments of anxiety symptoms, metacognitive beliefs, worry and repetitive negative thoughts before and after 11 sessions of intensified exposure treatment. Metacognitive beliefs did not change significantly after intensified exposure, but post-hoc power analysis revealed a lack of power here. Change in negative metacognitive beliefs correlated with a change in anxiety symptoms, but did not independently contribute as a predictor variable. Differences between subsamples showed that patients with separation-anxiety disorder scored higher on negative metacognitive beliefs than those with specific or social phobia. Consideration of metacognition, and negative metacognitive beliefs in particular could help us further improve the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents and should therefore receive more attention in psychotherapy research.

К вопросу разграничения поэтики и мироощущения (на материале «Женитьбы» Н.В. Гоголя)

Gogol’s works are very promising for the demarcation between the author’s attitude and the text’s idea and poetics that, usually, successively generate one another. However, Gogol’s attitude came from the archaic and normally could not become the text’s idea - including the motif of a marriage threat. In Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka and Viy, this motif was part of the depicted folklore world and, thanks to it, was detached from the author. The motif spawns new ties between attitude, idea, and poetics in the comedy Marriage (1833, 1842). Here idea (satire on marriage-related estate swagger) is formally given, and so the motif of marriage threat (shown in Podkolesin’s indecision) goes beyond it and approves itself by contradiction. Kochkarev shows unconsciously in his praise of women the infinity of their bodies as the archaic background of Podkolesin’s attraction to and fear of marriage. This infinity comes from the Slavic belief that during menses the female body ties the people’s world with the underground world of the dead and the infinity of the Earth. The kinship between the woman and the animal, which is constantly voiced in the comedy, makes marriage shameful and transforms its diabolic symbolism into “devil’s laughter”. Placing the story of the failed marriage in the “non-Russian” Petersburg world (perceived by the Russian folk mind as a realized chimera), Gogol gives the hidden explanation of his fear of women personified in Podkolesin. At the very beginning of the comedy, the invasion of the real world by the chimeric one is manifested in “new mirrors” that show people their caricatures. The character’s obscene language is the sign of his high position in society (it is legitimated by the “sodomic” names); lies become an unconscious replacement of the truth, and the hyperbole approves the opposite. Zhevakin and Kochkarev reflect the succession of the archaic and laughter worlds in Marriage. The former represents the “alive deceased” and an old-Russian beggar; the latter a joker and a devil-matchmaker. The explicit and banal “idea” in Marriage is the starting point for the poetical expression of Gogol’s attitude. However, personifying it in the comical hero, who lives in a comical world, Gogol, like in Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka and Viy (though in a different way), distanced himself from this attitude. Gogol’s late works show his own and hard-fought ideas. The archaic attitude was a fatal threat for them. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

Provider experiences of virtual reality in clinical treatment.

BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) has proven effective in the treatment of specific phobias and trauma particularly when in-vivo exposure therapy might be costly (e.g. fear of flying, combat scenes). Similarly, VR has been associated with improvement of chronic pain and of acute pain during medical procedures. Despite its effectiveness as a healthcare tool, VR technology is not well-integrated into common practice. This qualitative study aims to explore the provider perception of the value of VR and identify barriers to VR implementation among healthcare providers.MethodsA 66-item self-report survey was created to examine application of VR to clinical practice, perceived value of this treatment, ease of learning the technology, billing considerations, and other obstacles. 128 providers (MDs and PhDs) who were located in the United States and had used VR as a therapeutic tool in the past year were identified through research papers, as well as user lists and news articles from VR application websites. Of the 128 providers contacted, 17% (22) completed our online self-report measure. Of these, 13% of respondents (N = 17) completed greater than 75% of the questionnaire and were considered completers. Provider responses were collected over a one-month period and qualitatively analyzed.ResultsThe majority of providers were from an academic institution (n = 12, 70.6%), and all providers practiced in the outpatient setting. Providers most commonly reported using VR for the treatment of acute pain and/or anxiety related to medical procedures (n = 11, 64.7%), followed by specific phobia (n = 6, 35.3%) and social phobia (n = 6, 35.3%). All providers agreed VR is a valuable tool they would recommend to colleagues. The majority (n = 15, 93.8%) believed VR helped their patients progress in treatment, compared with other methods. Providers cited the ability to individualize treatment (n = 14, 87.5%) and increase patient engagement (n = 15, 93.8%) as main benefits of VR. A minority reported negative feedback from patients about content (n = 4, 25%) or about the technology in general (n = 6, 37.5%), whereas all reported some form of positive feedback. The slight majority (n = 10, 58.8%) of providers did not find transitioning to VR difficult. Of those who did, cost was the most commonly cited barrier (n = 6). Regarding reimbursement, only 17.6% (n = 3) of providers reported the ability to bill for VR sessions. Most providers (n = 15, 88.2%) received training on their VR platform which they found beneficial. Comparing the trained and untrained groups found no significant difference in VR comfort level (p = 0.5058), the value of VR in practice (p = 0.551) or whether providers would recommend VR to others (p = 0.551), though sample sizes were small.ConclusionsIn corroboration with previous research, this study demonstrates that VR is well-received by patients and providers, allowing increased patient engagement and treatment individualization. However, associated costs, including an inability to bill for this service, can present a barrier to further implementation. These findings will guide further development of virtual reality as a standardized tool in psychiatry and pain management.

A Young Woman’s Experience of Living with Hemophilia: A Qualitative Case Study

Introduction: Hemophilia is a chromosome-dependent genetic disorder. The cause of the disorder is coagulation factors 8 (hemophilia type A) and 9 (hemophilia type B) which seriously affect the quality of life of patients. The purpose of this study was to describe lived experiences of living with hemophilia from childhood to motherhood in a young woman.Patient description: This qualitative study explored the experiences of living with hemophilia in a 32-year-old woman. Data were collected through interactive semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Strategies to ensure the strength of the study were member checks and researcher triangulation in data analysis. All the research ethical principles were considered.Findings: From the data analyzes, four main themes including engulfed in treatment, suffering, and worry, acceptance of being different with sub-themes of pity and humiliation, social stigma, fear of marriage and motherhood, fear of further education, limited relationships, comparison with other diseases, accepting fate, and independence were emerged.Conclusion: The present study depicts a picture of the challenges from childhood to adulthood in a young woman with hemophilia, which has confirmed many physical, psychological, and social sufferings

The Effect of Schema-Based Premarital Education on Fear of Marriage and Coping Styles in Single Girls

The Effect of Schema-Based Premarital Education on Fear of Marriage and Coping Styles in Single Girls

Compliance of the Baltic States with the Principle of Tolerance as Condition for the Development of the United Europe

The article studies the compliance of democracy of the Baltic States with the principle of tolerance. The study demonstrated specific social phobias (xenophobia, migrant phobia, homophobia, islamophobia, romaphobia, etc.), hate speech and other destructive trends in the Baltic countries that contradict values of liberal democracy. The authors argue that Baltic States face similar challenges of strengthening the principle of tolerance as well as how they differ in intolerance manifestations and mechanisms of their prevention and counteraction. In the Baltic States, issues related to promotion of tolerance are claimed to be common at two levels: at the institutional level (countries do not fulfil some of the EU guidelines aimed at enhancing the principle of tolerance); at the value level (population does not accept completely liberal-democratic values that the EU advocates).

The effectiveness of schema therapy on the fear of marriage (Gamophobia) among single buys

The effectiveness of schema therapy on the fear of marriage (Gamophobia) among single buys

Psychiatric comorbidities with autism spectrum disorder in an adult clinic sample

AimsAs part of continuity, prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is nearly the same in adults as children and is associated with other comorbid psychiatric disorders that have substantial impact on their life and complex the intervention. This study aimed to examine psychiatric comorbidity in referred adult ASD patients compared to non-ASD psychiatric patients. It has been hypothesized that comorbid psychiatric disorders were higher among patients with ASD than patients without ASD.MethodIn total, 36 adults with ASD referred in the year 2019 in a psychiatric consultation center in Dhaka city were included in the study. They were derived from the case register of the center. Similar number of age and sex-matched adult psychiatric patients without ASD were selected for comparison. All patients were referred for psychiatric consultation. Socio-demographic variables were collected from the patients’ record. Diagnosis of psychiatric disorders including ASD was made by an experienced psychiatrist. It was done clinically based on all available information, examination and relevant investigations. Diagnoses were assigned according to DSM-5. Then comparisons of psychiatric disorders were made between the two patient groups.ResultThe cases were ranged from 18-41 years with the mean of 26.72 ± 6.5 years. Among them, 22 were male and 14 were female. Male-female ratio was 1.6:1. Most of the subjects received no education and were from middle income family with urban background. Mean number of comorbid psychiatric disorders was 1.92 in patients with ASD and 1.67 in patients without ASD and the difference was significant (P = 0.04). Most two frequent comorbidities among ASD patients were Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (27.77%) and Major Depressive Disorder(25%) followed by Specific Phobia(19.44%), Social Phobia and Intermittent Explosive Disorder(16.67%) for each, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(13.89%) and Conduct Disorder(11.11%). All these disorders were significantly higher than patients without ASD. Conversely, Major Depressive Disorder (30.55%) was most frequent among the patients without ASD and that was even significantly higher than patients with ASD. Other frequent disorders like Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Substance Related Disorder were also higher among non-ASD patients.ConclusionThis research shows that comorbid psychiatric disorders were frequently found in patients with ASD. Subsequent broad-based studies using extensive measures of psychopathology are required to confirm these preliminary findings. Greater understanding of the presence of other psychiatric disorders in ASD patients will turn this awareness into action.

A Platform for Exposure Therapy and Telemedicine, Using Mixed Reality Technology

Exposure therapy is the most effective treatment for specific phobias, social phobia, OCD, and PTSD. Even though exposure therapy is effective, only a third of the patients receive treatment because of lack of access to feared objects/situations in the clinic, lack of diversity of available objects, and very limited control over their behaviors. Treatment is also limited to the clinic office context, and not the real life experiences.

The Fear of Marriage of the Youth Who Are Aged Out of Institutions<sup>*</sup>

The Fear of Marriage of the Youth Who Are Aged Out of Institutions<sup>*</sup>

Comorbidity with more anxiety disorders associated with a poorer prognosis persisting at the 10-year follow-up among patients with major depressive disorder

ObjectiveNo study has investigated the association between number of anxiety disorders (NADs) and long-term outcome over 10 years among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study investigated this issue. MethodsAt baseline, 290 outpatients with MDD were enrolled, 149 with at least one anxiety disorder (AD). Subjects were followed-up at six-month, two-year, and 10-year points. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR was used to confirm psychiatric diagnoses. NADs at baseline was recorded. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A), and the somatic subscale (SS) of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale were employed. Generalized Estimating Equation models were used for statistical analysis. ResultsMDD patients with ADs had greater depression, anxiety, and somatic severities at the three follow-up points than those without. NADs was significantly and positively correlated with the three dimensions and total duration of pharmacotherapy at follow-up. NADs was independently associated with symptom severity after controlling for depression and anxiety at baseline and pharmacotherapy. When the DSM-5 criteria for ADs were applied, the results were unchanged. Specific phobia, panic disorder and social phobia, and panic disorder and specific phobia were independently associated with depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, respectively. LimitationPharmacotherapy at follow-up was not controlled. The three follow-up intervals were unequal. ConclusionsComorbidity with more ADs was associated with a poorer prognosis. The negative impacts of ADs on MDD persisted at the ten-year follow-up point. NADs was associated with the long-term prognosis of MDD.

Social anxiety and Internet socialization in Indian undergraduate students: An exploratory study

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a globally prevalent, chronic, debilitating psychiatric disorder affecting youth. With comorbidities including major depression, substance abuse, lower educational and work attainment, and increased suicide risk, it has a significant public health burden. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SAD in urban Indian undergraduate students and to study their Facebook (FB) usage patterns. In this exploratory cross-sectional study, 316 undergraduate students were screened for social anxiety using validated instruments, Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) and Social Phobia Scale (SPS), and divided into two groups based on scores obtained. The groups were then compared with regards to behaviors and attitudes toward Facebook, obtained from a self-report questionnaire. SAD was estimated to be a significant, prevalent (7.8%) disorder in otherwise productive youth, and showed female preponderance. Higher specific social phobia scores were associated with the inability to reduce Facebook use, urges toward increasing use, spending more time thinking about Facebook, negative reactions to restricting use, and using it to forget one's problems. SAD was estimated to have a prevalence of 7.8% in our study, and was associated with stronger FB usage attitudes and patterns. We recommend that the relationship between social anxiety and Internet use be explored further, to study the possibility of Internet-based screening and intervention strategies having wider reach and appeal in socially anxious individuals.

Prevalence of anxiety symptoms and disorders in the transgender population: A systematic review of the literature

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the general population, affecting 18% of the population in the United States (12 months prevalence) and 13.6% in Europe (life time prevalence). Several studies have also described high rates of anxiety disorders and symptoms of anxiety among the transgender population. There is, however, a great variation of results (particularly related to gender prevalence), and few studies have described the type of anxiety disorders specific to the transgender population.Aim: To collect and critically appraise the information from the available studies describing prevalence rates of anxiety disorders and symptoms.Results: A total of 25 cross-sectional (n = 17) and longitudinal (n = 8) studies were found. Cross-sectional studies described higher prevalence rates of anxiety symptoms in the transgender group than in the cis population. The prevalence of anxiety disorders range from 17% to 68%. The most common anxiety disorders found were specific phobias, social phobias, panic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Most of the large studies suggest higher levels of anxiety symptoms and disorders in transgender men compared with transgender women; however, considerable variation in results was found.Conclusions: The findings identified that there is considerable variation in anxiety disorders and symptoms among transgender people attending transgender health services. These findings are likely to be the result of the tools used, the lack of matching controls, and the lack of homogeneity of the group studied. Overall this review indicates high levels of anxiety symptoms and disorders among transgender people attending gender services, primarily (but not exclusively) before commencement of cross-sex hormone treatment. Anxiety disorders related to social interaction (such as social anxiety) and panic attack appear to be particularly common, however more rigorous studies to confirm those findings are needed.

Intensive Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Worry is a normal part of child development. However, a significant proportion of young people experience excessive worry that causes distress and interference with daily functioning. Although worry is a common feature of all anxiety disorders, it is a defining feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Cognitive-behavioural therapy is an efficacious treatment for GAD and other anxiety disorders that in recent years has been successfully adapted into short, time-limited formats for other childhood anxiety disorders including Specific Phobia, Social Phobia, Panic, Separation Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. However, intensive treatments for GAD specifically have not been examined to date. This paper provides a brief overview of the characteristics of youth with GAD, followed by a review of current intensive treatments for other anxiety disorders and evidence suggesting these approaches are effective in treating comorbid GAD. Potential benefits of an intensive treatment for GAD are outlined, and directions for future research on intensive treatments for GAD are discussed.

One-Session Treatment of a Specific Phobia of Swallowing Pills

This case study presents the treatment of a 23-year-old single White male with a specific phobia of swallowing and choking on pills. He presented for treatment as part of a larger treatment study for specific phobia and met criteria for a specific phobia, other type (swallowing pills), and social phobia. Treatment of the specific phobia involved One-Session Treatment and was conducted per Zlomke and Davis and Davis, Ollendick, and Öst. A posttreatment assessment 3 weeks after treatment and an 8-week follow-up assessment revealed significant improvements. At both assessments following treatment, clinician severity ratings on the Anxiety Disorders Inverview Schedule—Client (ADIS-IV) decreased, indicating no significant impairment, and the ADIS-IVs at those time periods indicated he no longer met criteria for a specific phobia. Improvements were also seen in the client’s self-reported fear, on his ratings of catastrophic cognitions, on a behavioral avoidance task, and in the comorbid social phobia symptoms.

Biased attention to threat in paediatric anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder) as a function of ‘distress’versus‘fear’ diagnostic categorization

Structural models of emotional disorders propose that anxiety disorders can be classified into fear and distress disorders. Sources of evidence for this distinction come from genetic, self-report and neurophysiological data from adults. The present study examined whether this distinction relates to cognitive processes, indexed by attention bias towards threat, which is thought to cause and maintain anxiety disorders. Diagnostic and attention bias data were analysed from 435 children between 5 and 13 years of age; 158 had principal fear disorder (specific phobia, social phobia or separation anxiety disorder), 75 had principal distress disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, GAD) and 202 had no psychiatric disorder. Anxious children were a clinic-based treatment-seeking sample. Attention bias was assessed on a visual-probe task with angry, neutral and happy faces. Compared to healthy controls, children with principal distress disorder (GAD) showed a significant bias towards threat relative to neutral faces whereas children with principal fear disorder showed an attention bias away from threat relative to neutral faces. Overall, children displayed an attention bias towards happy faces, irrespective of diagnostic group. Our findings support the distinction between fear and distress disorders, and extend empirically derived structural models of emotional disorders to threat processing in childhood, when many anxiety disorders begin and predict lifetime impairment.

Relationship Guidance Sources, Fears and Reasons for Marriage among Young Urban Christians in Kenya

Existing professional services for young people especially in developing countries need to be informed by the local situation for them to be effective. The study aimed at identifying sources of relationship guidance, young people's fea rs and reasons for marriage. 65 young Christians in Nairobi with an average age of 25.23 (sd.4.38) co mpleted a self -report questionnaire. Results indicate that the participants relied mainly on friends for relat ionship guidance. Social emot ional benefits, especially co mpanions hip, were the major motivation for young people to marry. Infidelity and divorce were the main sources of fear of marriage. Suggestions for research and practice are given.