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Examining the Panic Attack Specifier in Social Anxiety Disorder
Nicholas P Allan1, Mary E Oglesby1, Nicole A Short1
1a Department of Psychology , Florida State University , Tallahasssee , FL , USA.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
|January 12, 2016
Summary
Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and a panic attack (PA) specifier do not show increased severity or comorbidity compared to those without the specifier, differing only in somatic anxiety symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Anxiety Disorders
Background:
- Panic attacks (PAs) are common in psychiatric conditions.
- The DSM-5 allows a panic attack (PA) specifier for disorders like social anxiety disorder (SAD).
- Limited research exists on SAD with vs. without the PA specifier.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in social anxiety, mood, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity between individuals with SAD with and without the PA specifier.
- To determine if the PA specifier indicates a more severe presentation of SAD.
Main Methods:
- Compared individuals diagnosed with SAD without the PA specifier (N=52) to those with SAD and the PA specifier (N=14).
- Assessed social anxiety, mood, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity social concerns in both groups.
Main Results:
- The two groups differed significantly only in somatic symptoms of anxiety.
- No significant differences were found in overall social anxiety levels, mood, or general anxiety between the groups.
Conclusions:
- The presence of the panic attack (PA) specifier in social anxiety disorder (SAD) does not appear to indicate elevated comorbidity or a more severe clinical presentation.
- Somatic anxiety symptoms may be a distinguishing feature in SAD individuals with the PA specifier.
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