17730
document
Public and private heart rate feedback in social phobia : a manipulation of anxiety visibility . According to cognitive behavioural models of social phobia , bodily symptoms are the main source of information concerning social evaluation for social phobics . Experience and perception of bodily symptoms therefore play an important role in social anxiety . In this study we evaluated the effects of anxiety visibility on patients and controls using feedback of veridical heart sounds . A total of 32 social phobics and 32 controls were asked twice to sit in a chair and appear relaxed while being evaluated . Half of the participants heard their heart sounds first via headphones and then via loudspeakers which were also audible to observers . The presentation order of the heart sound was reversed for the other half of the subjects . Social phobics reported substantially more anxiety than controls . Both groups showed habituation in heart rate from the first to the second presentation , and both groups reported perception of a higher heart rate , but only social phobics reported significantly more anxiety and were more worried about their heart rates in the public than in the private condition . These effects were in excess of actual heart rate differences . In conclusion , social phobics worried about the broadcast of a bodily anxiety symptom , whereas controls did not . Information about arousal made public has a strong potential to increase anxiety levels in social phobics .
17731
Intervention_Other
social phobia
17732
Intervention_Physical
:
17733
Intervention_Educational
social phobia
17734
Intervention_Psychological
social phobics
17735
Intervention_Psychological
participants heard their heart sounds first via headphones
17736
Intervention_Psychological
Social phobics
17737
Intervention_Other
social phobics
17738
Intervention_Control
controls
17739
Outcome_Mental
social evaluation
17740
Outcome_Mental
anxiety visibility
17741
Outcome_Physical
heart sound
17742
Outcome_Mental
anxiety
17743
Outcome_Physical
habituation in heart rate
17744
Outcome_Physical
higher heart rate
17745
Outcome_Mental
anxiety
17746
Outcome_Physical
heart rates
17747
Outcome_Physical
actual heart rate differences
17748
Outcome_Physical
bodily anxiety symptom
17749
Outcome_Mental
anxiety levels
17750
Participant_Condition
social phobia
17751
Participant_Sample-size
32
17752
Participant_Sample-size
32