Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
Probability and cost estimates for social and physical outcomes in social phobia and panic disorder
Tanya H Uren1, Marianna Szabó, Peter F Lovibond
1School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract:
Individuals with Social Phobia (SP) (n = 23) and Panic Disorder (n = 22), and a non-anxious comparison (NAC) group (n = 62) rated the probability and cost of negative outcomes in the physical and the social domains. Overall, participants rated physical events as less probable but more costly than social events. Compared to the non-anxious group, participants with Social Phobia made significantly higher probability and cost estimates for social events, but not for physical events. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that perceived cost of negative social events was the strongest unique predictor of scores on the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE). Participants with Panic Disorder made significantly higher probability and cost estimates for both physical and social outcomes, compared to non-anxious participants. Both physical probability and social cost estimates predicted scores on the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ). Findings support the disorder-specificity of cognitive biases in Social Phobia, but suggest that individuals with Panic Disorder have a wider range of judgment biases than previously thought.
Related Concept Videos
Social Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Preparedness and Phobias
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...