Social Skills Training Encourages a Patient with Social Anxiety Disorder to Undertake Challenging Behavioral Experiments
Journal Title: Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 3
Abstract
Introductions: Cognitive models of social anxiety disorder (SAD), such as that developed by Clark & Wells, conceptualize the attention to, and misinterpretation of, internal information as a key maintaining factor. Social skills training (SST), a frequently used cognitive therapy (CT) technique for various mental disorders, is often justified according to a skills-deficit model of SAD, which assumes that anxiety arises from inadequate social interaction skills. However, the evidence largely suggests little to no skills deficit in this patient group, indicating that SST is not necessarily a technique to be used in CT for most SAD patients. In this study, we present a patient with SAD who negatively perceived her social skills abilities, and who benefitted from SST. We also discuss the role of brief SST in CT treatment. Presentation of Case: The patient was a Japanese female with excessive fear of social interactions who negatively perceived her own social skills. Cognitive therapy mainly consisted of case formulation, behavioral experiments, and opinion surveying based on the Clark & Wells model. As the patient felt too anxious to attempt behavioral experiments, due to her negative perception of her own social skills, SST was briefly employed in the course of CT. Discussion and Conclusion: As the patient’s actual social skills abilities were never formally assessed, it is impossible to know if she had any social skills deficits prior to treatment, and, if so, if they were improved by the SST provided. However, SST encouraged the patient to try challenging tasks, notably behavioral experiments and homework centering on feared social situations. Although SST should not necessarily be included in CT for SAD patients, SST can help patients to decrease their excessive fear of being negatively perceived due to poor social skills, making it easier for them to try challenging behavioral experiments in feared social situations.
Authors and Affiliations
Naoki Yoshinaga, Eiji Shimizu
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP348751
- DOI 10.9734/BJMMR/2014/5612
- Views 81
- Downloads 0
Unusual Complication of Incarcerated Uterovaginal Prolapse: A Case Report
Aims: The case report aims to bring out a rare and life threatening complication of incarcerated utero-vaginal prolapse. Case Report: We present a case of 55 yr old woman with incarcerated prolapse. Details of evolving c...
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci Isolated from Clinical Samples in Kashmir, North India: A Hospital Based Study
Aims: To find out the prevalence and risk factors for vancomycin resistant Enterococci in a leading tertiary care center of north India. Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Sher-I-Kashmir Institu...
Ultrasonography as a Breast Imaging Modality: A Review
Introduction: Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) serves as the most prominent adjunct imaging modality to mammography. Ultrasound (US) is cheap, non-invasive and widely available in healthcare centres i...
In-Hospital Mobility and Associated Factors
Background and Purpose: Immobility during hospitalization can lead to deleterious consequences and substantial decline in functional capacity, and even a rise in mortality rate has been reported. Determining and understa...
Cytotoxic Analysis of Various Root Canal Irrigants at Cellular Level
Aim: To evaluate and compare the cytotoxic effects of commercially available root canal irrigants sodium hypochlorite, chlorhexidine and a herbal extract, Morinda tinctoria. Study Design: Concerned to the biological per...