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Attention training for generalized social anxiety disorder
Norman B Schmidt1, J Anthony Richey1, Julia D Buckner2
1Department of Psychology, Florida State University.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|February 19, 2009
Summary
Attention training significantly reduced social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms by helping patients disengage from negative social cues. This intervention showed lasting improvements and high remission rates for generalized SAD.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Background:
- Attentional bias towards negative social cues is implicated in the development and persistence of social anxiety disorder (SAD).
- Targeting this bias through cognitive training may offer a novel therapeutic approach for SAD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of attention training designed to improve disengagement from negative social cues in patients with generalized SAD.
- To determine if this training reduces social anxiety and trait anxiety symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 36 patients diagnosed with generalized SAD.
- Participants were assigned to either an attention training group (disengaging from disgusted faces) or a control dot-probe task group.
- Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 4-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- The attention training group showed significantly greater reductions in social anxiety and trait anxiety compared to the control group.
- Post-intervention, 72% of patients in the attention training group no longer met DSM-IV criteria for SAD, versus 11% in the control group.
- These improvements were maintained at the 4-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Attention training is an effective intervention for reducing social anxiety and associated symptoms in generalized SAD.
- The findings support attention-based models of anxiety and highlight attention training as a promising therapeutic strategy.
- This approach may serve as an effective standalone or adjunctive treatment for social anxiety disorder.
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