Social Phobia Research Articles

Social anxiety and resilience among undergraduate medical students in Kolkata: A mixed-methods study

Background: Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, involves an uncontrollable fear of social situations, exacerbating stress and hindering academic performance. Building resilience is crucial as it helps individuals cope with and recover from stress effectively. This study aimed to assess social anxiety and resilience among undergraduate medical students at a tertiary care institute in Kolkata and to identify any associated sociodemographic factors. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted from April to June 2022 among 200 undergraduate medical students of Phase-I of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. Quantitative data were collected via electronic method (Google Forms). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to examine relation between sociodemographic characteristics, social anxiety, and resilience. The qualitative component consisted of in-depth interviews with 12 purposively selected participants and was thematically analysed. Results: Most (80.0%) participants were aged between 17 and 20 years, and 63.7% were from urban residences. Social anxiety was prevalent in almost 78% of participants, while only 2.1% exhibited ‘high’ resilience. Students whose mothers had received primary education and less monthly pocket money had significantly higher odds of experiencing social anxiety. Qualitative findings revealed themes such as fear of judgment, avoidance of social situations, and impacts on academic performance, with coping mechanisms including seeking social support and practicing mindfulness. Conclusion: Most of the participants experienced social anxiety, with few displaying high resilience. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive mental health support systems within medical institutions.

A Short-Term Group Telehealth Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Youth with Autism and Anxiety: A Pilot Study.

Background: Children with autism often present with comorbid anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective, evidence-based approach to treating anxiety, but information on youth with autism and anxiety is limited. Coping Cat is a 16-week CBT intervention for children with anxiety but its use in a group telehealth format in an urban, predominantly Hispanic population is limited. Objectives: (a) To examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a short-term CBT telehealth group for youth with autism and anxiety disorders in an urban, predominantly Hispanic population and (b) to examine satisfaction with the intervention. Methods: Single-arm pilot study that consisted of a 16-week telehealth CBT group therapy was based on a modified Coping Cat curriculum. Youth with autism and anxiety disorders who were on a waitlist for psychotherapy at an urban developmental center were invited to participate. Anxiety was assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, parent and self-report. Results: Eighteen children were enrolled; 16 children completed the program. Mean age was 11 ± 2.5 years (8-15 years); 89% males, 61% Hispanic. There was a significant reduction in pre-post intervention in symptoms of overall anxiety (parent: 41.0 ± 18.5 to 31.0 ± 16.3 p ≤ 0.003, self: 25.9 ± 12.8 to 14.1 ± 7.8 p ≤ 0.001), panic disorder (parent: 8.1 ± 7.0 to 4.1 ± 4.2 p = 0.013, self: 5.1 ± 4.8 to 0.8 ± 0.9 p = 0.004), and separation anxiety disorder (parent: 7.5 ± 4.8 to 5.7 ± 4.4 p = 0.041, self: 5.8 ± 3.3 to 3.8 ± 2.4 p = 0.018) as per parent and self-reports. Self-report data also revealed a significant reduction in symptoms of social anxiety disorder (6.5 ± 3.5 to 3.9 ± 2.7 p ≤ 0.001). Parents and children reported satisfaction with the group. Conclusion: In this small, predominantly Hispanic population of youth with autism and anxiety disorder, 89% of families were compliant with a group telehealth CBT intervention. Parents and youth reported a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms and program satisfaction. A modified group CBT program via telehealth represents a feasible intervention for youth with autism and anxiety disorders.

Effect of Social Phobia on Psychological Well-being among Young Adults: A Micro Study

Effect of Social Phobia on Psychological Well-being among Young Adults: A Micro Study

A digital iCBT intervention for social anxiety disorder in Quebec and Ontario: protocol for a multi-phase effectiveness-implementation study

BackgroundSocial anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders in Canada. Viable therapy options for the treatment of SAD include CBT being delivered virtually. In Australia, an innovative internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) program for social anxiety has been developed, implemented, and demonstrated as effective. To make available high-quality and real-time evidence in response to the crucial need to access psychological services to meet population mental health needs, we propose to conduct a Canadian adaptation of the iCBT Shyness Program and to examine the program’s effectiveness, and implementation in two Canadian provinces (Quebec and Ontario).MethodsThe overall study design is a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study of a quasi-experimental parallel group trial. Prior to implementing the iCBT Shyness Program, it will undergo an initial adaptation to the Canadian context and focus groups will be conducted with key actor groups to discuss the adaptations to the graphics, narration of the lessons, and this to better reflect varying socio-cultural context among Canadian French- and English-speaking populations. We will evaluate the effectiveness of the program in three parallel pathways reflecting real-world pathways: (1) self-refer to the intervention; (2) recommended by a health professional without guidance; and (3) recommended by a health professional, with low-intensity guidance. Data collection will be carried out at baseline, at the beginning of each lesson, 12-week and 6-month follow-up. Outcomes measured will include anxiety and depressive symptoms, psychological distress, disability, as well as health service utilization and satisfaction. Semi-structured interviews will then be conducted with study participants and health care providers to explore facilitating factors and barriers to the implementation of the iCBT adapted program.DiscussionThis study will provide evidence on the effectiveness, barriers and facilitating factors to implementing a low-intensity iCBT in the Canadian context for SAD, which will bridge an important care gap for undeserved populations in Canada with SAD. Findings will inform the eventual scaling up of the program in community-based primary care across Canada. This would improve equity of the health care system by helping a large number of Canadians to timely access to mental health services.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT06403995. Prospectively registered on 05/03/2024.

Machine learning and Bayesian network analyses identifies associations with insomnia in a national sample of 31,285 treatment-seeking college students

BackgroundA better understanding of the relationships between insomnia and anxiety, mood, eating, and alcohol-use disorders is needed given its prevalence among young adults. Supervised machine learning provides the ability to evaluate which mental disorder is most associated with heightened insomnia among U.S. college students. Combined with Bayesian network analysis, probable directional relationships between insomnia and interacting symptoms may be illuminated.MethodsThe current exploratory analyses utilized a national sample of college students across 26 U.S. colleges and universities collected during population-level screening before entering a randomized controlled trial. We used a 4-step statistical approach: (1) at the disorder level, an elastic net regularization model examined the relative importance of the association between insomnia and 7 mental disorders (major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia nervosa, and alcohol use disorder); (2) This model was evaluated within a hold-out sample. (3) at the symptom level, a completed partially directed acyclic graph (CPDAG) was computed via a Bayesian hill-climbing algorithm to estimate potential directionality among insomnia and its most associated disorder [based on SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values)]; (4) the CPDAG was then tested for generalizability by assessing (in)equality within a hold-out sample using structural hamming distance (SHD).ResultsOf 31,285 participants, 20,597 were women (65.8%); mean (standard deviation) age was 22.96 (4.52) years. The elastic net model demonstrated clinical significance in predicting insomnia severity in the training sample [R2 = .44 (.01); RMSE = 5.00 (0.08)], with comparable performance in the hold-out sample (R2 = .33; RMSE = 5.47). SHAP values indicated that the presence of any mental disorder was associated with higher insomnia scores, with major depressive disorder as the most important disorder associated with heightened insomnia (mean |SHAP|= 3.18). The training CPDAG and hold-out CPDAG (SHD = 7) suggested depression symptoms presupposed insomnia with depressed mood, fatigue, and self-esteem as key parent nodes.ConclusionThese findings provide insights into the associations between insomnia and mental disorders among college students and warrant further investigation into the potential direction of causality between insomnia and depression.Trial registrationTrial was registered on the National Institute of Health RePORTER website (R01MH115128 || 23/08/2018).

Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire. Part 2

BACKGROUND: On the basis of the concept of psychotic and psychotic-like experiences, delusions and auditory hallucinations presented in Part 1 of this article, the structure of the links between psychotic experiences and social anxiety and its components and psychological parameters is analyzed. A mediator model of the relationship between social anxiety and the phase of psychotic alienation — "experiencing external control" — is discussed. AIM: To investigate the parameters and stages of development of psychotic and psychotic-like experiences registered with the Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire in the context of analyzing the structure of relationships with psychological variables (social anxiety, metacognitive and cognitive phenomena). Тo construct a mediator model of the indirect effect of social anxiety components on the “experience of being controlled externally” mediated by thought suppression (“polar bear effect”). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample — 122 respondents, includes non-clinical and two clinical groups — with symptoms of the affective spectrum and with symptoms of the psychotic spectrum. The author's ‘Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire’ was used to assess the severity of psychotic experiences, the scales of which represent the phases of the unfolding of the experiences. Social anxiety and its components (author's “Social Anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire”), cognitive (“Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire”, “Behavioural Self-Regulation Style — SSPM 2020” questionnaire) and metacognitive (Thought Suppression Scale, author's “Self-Focused Attention Questionnaire”) strategies were determined. RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis showed significant ‘direct’ associations of early and moderate psychotic and psychotic-like experiences with social anxiety and its components, metacognitive (self-focused attention and thought suppression) parameters, and ‘inverse’ links with cognitive parameters (cognitive component of conscious self-regulation and cognitive flexibility). Correlations with psychological parameters become insignificant in intense psychotic experiences. Using mediator analysis, the full indirect effects of the social anxiety components influence on the enhancement of “experiencing being controlled externally” as a phase of psychotic experiences maximum intensity were measured (mediator — thought suppression). CONCLUSION: Metacognitive strategies, social anxiety, disturbed self-regulation and flexibility play an important role in the genesis and maintenance of psychotic experiences. Significant correlations of the parameters with psychotic experience are shown, but at the height of alienation the significant correlations weaken. At the height of psychotic experience in the absence of direct effects it is possible to explicate the indirect influence of the predictor — social anxiety on the experience of controllability from the outside, mediated by thought suppression. This article is a continuation of the article by Sagalakova OA, Truevtsev DV, Zhirnova OV. Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire. Part 1. Neurology Bulletin. 2024;56(1):23–36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/nb623959

Resting-state functional connectivity in anxiety disorders: a multicenter fMRI study.

Anxiety disorders (AD) are associated with altered connectivity in large-scale intrinsic brain networks. It remains uncertain how much these signatures overlap across different phenotypes due to a lack of well-powered cross-disorder comparisons. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) to investigate differences in functional connectivity (FC) in a cross-disorder sample of AD patients and healthy controls (HC). Before treatment, 439 patients from two German multicenter clinical trials at eight different sites fulfilling a primary diagnosis of panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (PD/AG, N = 154), social anxiety disorder (SAD, N = 95), or specific phobia (SP, N = 190) and 105 HC underwent an 8 min rsfMRI assessment. We performed categorical and dimensional regions of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analyses focusing on connectivity between regions of the defensive system and prefrontal regulation areas. AD patients showed increased connectivity between the insula and the thalamus compared to controls. This was mainly driven by PD/AG patients who showed increased (insula/hippocampus/amygdala-thalamus) and decreased (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex/periaqueductal gray-anterior cingulate cortex) positive connectivity between subcortical and cortical areas. In contrast, SAD patients showed decreased negative connectivity exclusively in cortical areas (insula-orbitofrontal cortex), whereas no differences were found in SP patients. State anxiety associated with the scanner environment did not explain the FC between these regions. Only PD/AG patients showed pronounced connectivity changes along a widespread subcortical-cortical network, including the midbrain. Dimensional analyses yielded no significant results. The results highlighting categorical differences between ADs at a systems neuroscience level are discussed within the context of personalized neuroscience-informed treatments. PROTECT-AD's registration at NIMH Protocol Registration System: 01EE1402A and German Register of Clinical Studies: DRKS00008743. SpiderVR's registration at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03208400.

Comparison of Resting-State Functional Connectivity Between Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder: Differences in the Nucleus Accumbens and Thalamus Network.

Background: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are distinguished by whether anxiety is limited to social situations. However, reports on the differences in brain functional networks between GAD and SAD are few. Our objective is to understand the pathogenesis of GAD and SAD by examining the differences in resting brain function between patients with GAD and SAD and healthy controls (HCs). Methods: This study included 21 patients with SAD, 17 patients with GAD, and 30 HCs. Participants underwent psychological assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-brain analyses were performed to compare resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) among the groups. In addition, logistic regression analysis was conducted on the rsFC to identify significant differences between GAD and SAD. Results: Patients with SAD and GAD had significantly higher rsFC between the bilateral postcentral gyri and bilateral amygdalae/thalami than HCs. Compared with patients with SAD, those with GAD had significantly higher rsFC between the right nucleus accumbens and bilateral thalami and between the left nucleus accumbens and right thalamus. rsFC between the left nucleus accumbens and right thalamus positively correlated with state anxiety in patients with SAD and GAD, respectively. In addition, logistic regression analysis revealed that the right nucleus accumbens and the right thalamus connectivity could distinguish SAD from GAD. Conclusions: GAD and SAD were distinguished by the right nucleus accumbens and the right thalamus connectivity. Our findings offer insights into the disease-specific neural basis of SAD and GAD. Clinical Trial Registration Number: UMIN000024087. Impact Statement This study is the first to identify a resting state functional connectivity that distinguishes social anxiety disorder (SAD) from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and to clarify a common connectivity in both disorders. We found that the connectivity between the right nucleus accumbens and the right thalamus differentiated SAD from GAD. Furthermore, these rsFC differences suggest an underlying basis for fear overgeneralization. Our findings shed light on the pathophysiology of these conditions and could be used as a basis for further studies to improve outcomes for such patients.

Impact of yoga and naturopathy on stress, anxiety, heart rate variability, and quality of life of a patient with social anxiety disorder

Abstract: A 32-year-old male diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD) visited our hospital with complaints of avoiding social events due to fear of negative judgment, difficulty in conveying thoughts, embarrassment, and overthinking. He also struggled to initiate conversations and experienced agoraphobia, which made him feel anxious in crowded places. He underwent a 23-day comprehensive yoga and naturopathy intervention. Compared to the baseline, the postintervention assessment showed a reduction in Perceived Stress Scale score and Hamilton Anxiety Rating scores and improvement in heart rate variability (HRV) and Short Form (SF)-36 healthy survey. It suggests that yoga and naturopathy might be beneficial in decreasing stress and anxiety and in enhancing HRV and quality of life of people with SAD. However, as this is a single case report, more studies are recommended to validate the findings of this study.

Anime watching: is a new kind of addiction? Evaluation of psychopathologies and psychosocial factors associated with problematic anime watching among adolescents

BackgroundIn recent years, with the rapid development of technology, research on behavioral addiction concepts such as digital gaming disorders and problematic internet use has increased. As anime-watching has become widespread worldwide, it is thought that this behavior may be one of the areas of problematic technology use, especially in adolescence. However, studies evaluating problematic anime-watching behaviors within the framework of behavioral addictions are quite limited in the literature. In this study, problematic anime-watching behaviors, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and possible psychosocial factors were evaluated in 86 anime watchers aged between 12 and 18 years. Problematic anime-watching behaviors were evaluated according to the diagnostic criteria of other defined disorders related to addictive behaviors in ICD-11. A semi-structured interview tool was used to assess psychiatric comorbidities, and the IGDS9-SF adapted form for anime-watching, the Self-Efficacy Scale for Children, KIDCOPE, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents were used to collect other data.ResultsIt was determined that 36.8% of the 86 adolescents in our study had problematic anime-watching behavior. Compared to other adolescents, the problematic anime-watching group had significantly lower self-efficacy scores and significantly higher social anxiety and avoidant coping scores. A significant relationship was found between social anxiety disorder and watching problematic anime.ConclusionsThe present study showed that problematic watching of anime may be a variant of behavioral addiction. In conclusion, the relationship between problematic anime-watching behaviors and mental health warrants further examination.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychiatric diseases in individuals with primary hyperhidrosis.

Primary hyperhidrosis is associated with a substantial mental burden. In this study, the objective was to compare the occurrence of psychiatric diseases in individuals with and without primary hyperhidrosis by systematically reviewing the literature and conducting a meta-analysis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist were employed. Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed were searched. The risk of bias was determined by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random effects model was employed in the meta-analysis. Fifteen studies met the eligibility criteria encompassing 50,429 participants with hyperhidrosis and 182,464 control participants. Hyperhidrosis was associated with increased odds of anxiety (odds ratio 3.5 [95% confidence interval 1.0, 11.8]) and depression (odds ratio 2.4 [95% confidence interval 1.4, 4.0]). Studies using outcome definitions for anxiety and depression, which not were included in the meta-analysis, showed similar results. Studies reporting on other morbidities (i.e., body dysmorphic disorder, social phobia and stress) found a higher occurrence of these outcomes in the individuals with hyperhidrosis than in the control participants. Primary hyperhidrosis is associated with anxiety and depression. These results acknowledge the psychiatric burden patients with primary hyperhidrosis experience.

Mental health literacy of adolescents in Bermuda, according to age, gender and race.

Mental health literacy (MHL) is an important part of the help-seeking process, yet there is a lack of knowledge about the MHL of adolescents in the Caribbean. This region is important to study as it is underrepresented in mental health research globally. The aim of this study is to explore the ability of adolescents in Bermuda to recognize depression and social phobia (social anxiety) and their beliefs about the sources of help for a peer with these mental health problems. This cross-sectional study surveyed middle and high school students aged 10-19 years in Bermuda. Online surveys conducted between November 2022 and June 2023 gathered demographic data including age, gender and race, and assessed the ability to recognize depression and social anxiety from descriptions provided in randomly assigned vignettes, and beliefs about sources of help. Across 15 middle and high schools, 2423 adolescents (out of 3593 eligible participants) completed all demographic and MHL survey questions (1139 males, 1272 females). Recognition rates for depression and social anxiety were 60% and 53%, respectively. Compared to females, males endorsed a greater variety of help sources. Reporting symptoms of depression or anxiety reduced the likelihood of endorsing multiple sources of help. MHL of adolescents in Bermuda is sub-optimal, particularly for social anxiety. Mental health promotion programs may be useful in improving recognition rates.

Psychological Profile of Patients Presenting with Dermatological Complaints: A Cross-sectional Study

Objectives: The study evaluates the psychological profile in patients presenting to a dermatological clinic in Mumbai, India. Materials and Methods: We evaluated anxiety, depression, stress, anger, body image, and relationships in 63 outpatients presenting with dermatological complaints. We used linear regression models for multivariate analyses for coefficient and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) was 37.4 (14.9) years; 30 (51%) were female and 31 (49%) were male. The common diagnoses were papulosquamous conditions (24%), acne (18%), hair fall (15%), pigmentary conditions (11%), pruritus (10%), and infection (8%). The mean anxiety (SD) score was highest in pigmentary conditions (11.6 [13.9]), depression (15.0 [5.0]) and posttraumatic stress scores (16.3 [25.6]) in pigmentary conditions, social phobia scores in allergy (21.8 [17.0]), and anger scores in acne (25.4 [6.3]). The mean (SD) family scores were lowest in pruritus (8.0 4.2]), body image in infection (3.6 [0.9]), and self-image in pigmentation (6.0 [2.3]). The mean social phobia scores were higher in allergy compared with acne (12.2, 95% CI: 1.6, 22.8, P = 0.02). Body image scores were lower in pruritus (−7.7, 95% CI: −14.5, −0.9, P = 0.03). Conclusion: The psychological parameters differ in various dermatological conditions; hence, a complete profile analysis will be beneficial for designing interventions in these patients.

Internet addiction, social phobia, substance abuse, and depression in the university setting: a cross-sectional study in the southern region of Morocco.

Internet addiction is a mental health issue that can have detrimental effects on an individual's life. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of Internet Addiction and identify the risk factors associated with this behavioral addiction. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 universities in southern Morocco, involving 1,690 students who completed a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic data, and information on substance use, and included validated tools to assess Internet addiction (Young's IADQ), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire. PHQ-9), and social phobia (Mini Neuropsychiatric International Interview. M.I.N.I). The findings of our study indicate that the prevalence of Internet addiction was 30.60% (95% CI), depressive symptoms were present in 44.10% of participants, and the prevalence of social Phobia was 30.20%. A significant correlation was identified between early initiation of tobacco and Internet addiction (p = 0.05). The multivariate regression model revealed a possible association between cocaine use and Internet Addiction (OR = 5.67, IC 95%: 0.45 to 10.80) (p = 0.03), as well as a significant association between social phobia and a higher internet addiction score (OR = 3.45, IC 95%: 1.70-5.02) (p < 0.001). However, depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with internet addiction (p = 0.38). These results highlight the urgent need to address internet addiction in the coming years. Implementing Multidisciplinary prevention strategies, early diagnosis, and follow-up measures are essential to mitigate the physical, psychosocial, and academic impacts of this addiction on students.

Impact of Social Media Addiction Among Medical Students on Their Social Interaction, Well-Being, and Personality: A Comparative Study.

Background Social media addiction has emerged as a growing concern, particularly among young adults, including medical students who face unique stressors and demands. The widespread usage of social media platforms can lead to addictive behaviors affecting mental health, academic performance, and interpersonal relationships. Understanding the relationship between social media addiction, personality traits, social interaction, and overall well-being is crucial for developing effective interventions to support this vulnerable group. Aim To study the relationship of social media addiction with social interaction, well-being, and personality in medical students. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 students from a medical institution, including both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Data were collected through an online survey, administered via Google Forms. Social Media Addiction Scale-Student Form (SMA-SF), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Social Phobia Scale, Medical Student Well-Being Index (MSWBI), Three-Item Loneliness Scale (T-ILS), and Short Big Five Inventory Scale (BFI-10) were applied to all the participants. Results A total of 292 medical students participated in the study, comprising 122 males and 170 females. The analysis revealed that both male and female students exhibit similar levels of susceptibility to social media addiction, as evidenced by comparable scores on measures of social media addiction, social interaction anxiety, social phobia, loneliness, well-being, and personality traits. Regression analysis identified time spent on social media and agreeableness as significant predictors of social media addiction, with no signs of multicollinearity. These findings indicate that male and female medical students share similar psychological profiles, highlighting critical factors that influence social media usage within this population. Conclusion This study highlights a significant prevalence of social media addiction among medical students, affecting 76.7% (n = 224) of participants, with slightly higher rates observed among females (n = 132, 78%) compared to males (n = 92, 72%). This addiction correlates with adverse psychological traits such as heightened social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and loneliness, along with personality traits like neuroticism. Both genders exhibit similar susceptibility to addiction, influenced by factors such as time spent socializing and agreeableness. Addressing these findings through targeted interventions could improve medical students' overall well-being and mental health outcomes, underscoring the need for further research and effective strategies in academic settings.

Developmental Bibliotherapy with Extremely Shy Children

Extremely shy children may find themselves somehow isolated from society and feel alone. This may cause them to experience different problems at home, at school and in the community. If this situation continues in the following years, the difficulties they experience in life will increase and the probability of their emergence as mental problems such as childhood loneliness, social anxiety disorders, depression and anxiety disorders that negatively affect their quality of life will increase. Thus, it is important to intervene in childhood shyness, social isolation, loneliness, and behavioral inhibition in order to eliminate possible problems that may be experienced in childhood and at the same time to prevent the continuation of the situation in adolescence and adulthood. Developmental bibliotherapy can be used in the context of both prevention and early intervention studies for shyness in early childhood with extremely shy children. In this context, the aim of this study is to provide an in-depth perspective on the concepts of extreme shyness and bibliotherapy, and to present an example of a developmental bibliotherapy session that can be experienced with extremely shy children who are between five to eight years old in early childood period and a sample book list that can be used in the sessions.."

Социальная тревога российского студенчества: территориальный аспект

Relevance. The article is focused оn the analysis of social anxiety and social phobia of modern Russian students of six regions of the Russian Federation in the context of a Special Military Operation and the sanctions pressure of the collective West on our state and its citizens. Research problem. The purpose of our research is to study the manifestations of social anxiety and sociоphobia caused by military actions among Russian students as a special socio-demographic group of people of the younger generation exposed to social risks. Methods. The total number of respondents was 991 people. All respondents are students of higher educational institutions. The research methodology is the Questionnaire of social anxiety and sociobia (OSTiSF). The article analyzes the data of psychological testing (face-to-face and online) of the large-scale interregional socio-psychological study “Russian students: assessments and patterns of the present and future as a basis for the formation of civic and value attitudes”. Research results. It was determined that the dominant type of social anxiety is post-situational rumination. The highest level of social anxiety was observed among young people living in the new Russian territories. Respondents from the newly annexed territories of the Russian Federation have a statistically higher level of social anxiety and sociоphobia than respondents from Belgorod and the Rostov region. Also, social anxiety is higher in women than in men. Conclusions. Psychological correction of social anxiety and sociophobia among modern youth is an important sphere of implementation of university youth policy. Its solution is the prerogative of specialised units of university psychological services.

Narcissism Fear of Missing out and Phubbing The Moderating Role of Mindfulness

The study sought to investigate the relationship between narcissism, fear of missing out (FOMO), and phubbing behavior pertaining to the young adults, in which special focus was paid to moderating role of mindfulness. The study sample consisted of 300 young adults aged 18-25, comprising 145 males and 155 females. The variables were studied using the FOMO scale, standard narcissistic personality inventory (grandiose narcissism &amp; vulnerable narcissism), mindful attention awareness scale, and Social Phobia Generalized Scale including inter personal conflict, nomophobia, problem recognition and self-isolation. Results demonstrated FOMO as a reputable ‘dangerous’ narcissistic trait associated with phubbing since the two were positively linked to indulging in FOMO. Other social anxiety triggering phubbing was advancing a proposal that FOMO was positively associated with the exhibition of phubbing behaviors. These findings imply the need of incorporating FOMO to the existing interventions that aim at curbing phubbing behavior amongst the young adults. Positioned in this way, the study emphasizes that the development of the curative strategy should contain the assumption of the role of mindfulness in moderating the effect of FOMO on social behaviors.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Social Anxiety: A Clinical Study on Dual Pathology

This article explores the complex relationship between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD), two conditions that frequently co-occur in clinical practice. Studies indicate that individuals with SAD are at an increased risk of developing AUD, using alcohol as a means to alleviate anxiety in social situations. This dual pathology presents significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, as the presence of one disorder can exacerbate the other. Through a clinical case study and a comprehensive review of the literature, we aim to shed light on the mechanisms of this comorbidity, explore therapeutic approaches, and highlight the importance of integrated treatment strategies. The case of a 31-year-old patient with severe alcohol dependence and social anxiety illustrates the complexities of managing such cases, where both psychological and pharmacological interventions are required for successful outcomes.

Changes in Child Psychiatry Presentations in the Second Wave of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Compared to the Pre-pandemic Period and the First Wave: A Follow-up Study.

It is to examine how child psychiatry admissions, diagnosis and treatment trends in the second wave (September-December 2020/SD20) of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic change compared to the pre-pandemic (SD19) and the first wave (March-June 2020/MJ20). Our study was planned as a multicenter, retrospective cross-sectional. Data were obtained from hospital computer systems databases. All patients admitted to the child psychiatry clinic on SD19 and SD20 constituted the study sample. In total, 5244 admissions were assessed. Of the admissions, 1459 were repeat exams, and 3785 were cases. 50.9% (n = 1927) of the cases came in SD19 and 49.1% (n = 1858) in SD20. In 2019, 37% (n = 825) of cases were girls, compared to 41.6% (n = 646) in 2020 (P = .004). The mean age of those who came in 2019 was 9.61 ± 4.08; The mean age of those who came in 2020 was 10.15 ± 5.38 (P = .002). In 2020, oppositional defiant conduct disorder, major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sleep-wake disorder, and dysthymia were significantly higher, while specific learning disorders, separation anxiety disorder, and intellectual disability were found to be lower. The decrease in second-wave admissions is less than in the first wave. In the second wave, externalizing and internalizing problems have increased. Drug therapy was prioritized. Postponing admissions was less in the second wave.