This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a newly developed instrument, the Social Anxiety Scale (SAS) within a non-clinical Swedish adult population (n: 384), in which psychophysical (SAS-cMax) and categorical (SAS-C) scaling methods were compared. Unlike many common rating scales, the SAS items were designed to align with the perceived intensity of symptom severity. With a reduced number of items, both scaling methods (SAS11-cMax and SAS13-C) demonstrated robust conceptual validity, with a three-factor model encompassing “fear of interaction in groups and with strangers”, “fear of speaking in front of others and being in the center of attention”, and “fear of performing tasks while being observed”. In addition, the SAS showed an excellent internal consistency (SAS11-cMax, α = 0.93 and SAS13-C, α = 0.93), as well as good to satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. ROC-analyses revealed an excellent accurcay of both scaling methods to distinguish between high and low social anxiety levels. A score of 25.3 cM (“moderate social anxiety”) yielded the most optimal sensitivity (0.80) and specificity (0.80) of the SAS11-cMax. A score of 18.5 points yielded the most optimal sensitivity (0.85) and specificity (0.87) of the SAS13-C. Overall, its concluded that the SAS exhibits sound psychometric properties regardless of scaling method. Further validation with other social anxiety scales and within a clinical population, is needed to establish its effectiveness as a screening tool for social anxiety.

This longitudinal study aimed to examine the 1-year prevalence, incidence and persistence of sub-diagnostic social anxiety (SSA) as well as general risk factors for the incidence and persistence of SSA during early and mid-adolescence. A Swedish sample of adolescents (N = 2,523) aged 13-14 years at Time 1 and 14-15 years at Time 2 completed measures of anxiety, depressive symptoms, stressors and emotion regulation strategies across the two timepoints. SSA was defined and assessed by the Social Phobia Screening Questionnaire for Children. The prevalence of SSA was 16%, the incidence 12%, and the persistence 53% over time. Symptoms of depression and general anxiety, various stressors and emotion regulation strategies were overall significantly related to SSA. Predictors for the incidence of SSA were lower age, female gender and elevated general anxiety and behavioral avoidance (i.e. being afraid of new activities when there is uncertainty about the outcome). Predictors for persistent SSA were female gender and increased behavioral avoidance. In conclusion, SSA is very common among young individuals, and behavioral avoidance appears particularly important for understanding the development and persistence of SSA in adolescence.

Background: Social anxiety and depressive symptoms increase markedly during adolescence. Most research examining the emergence of these symptoms has used a variable-centered approach providing little information about how these symptoms group together in individuals over time.Method: A person-centered approach utilizing latent profile and latent transitional analyses was applied to a large adolescent sample (N = 2742, Mage=13.65; SD=0.63; 47.9% girls). Subgroups differing in their expressions of social anxiety and depressive symptoms at each of four annual time points were identified and then change in membership of these groups was evaluated.Results: Four subgroups were identified: 1. Low Distress, 2. Socially Anxious, 3. Dysphoric, and 4. Comorbid. The low distress group was the largest and most stable, followed by the socially anxious group, who most commonly transitioned into the comorbid group. In contrast, the dysphoric group were most likely to remit and move to the low distress group. The comorbid group was the smallest and least stable, although once in this group, three quarters of adolescents remained in this group over time.Conclusion: Early intervention is particularly imperative for socially anxious adolescents with or without comorbid depressive symptoms as they are the least likely to improve across the adolescent years.

Syftet med den här boken är att ge en bred, sammanhängande och aktuell bild av social ångest. Social ångest innebär för många ett stort lidande och är ett av de vanligaste psykiatriska syndromen. Det är också ett fält inom vilket kunskapsutvecklingen har expanderat kraftigt sedan 1980-talet. Den traditionella bilden av blyga och tillbakadragna personer med social ångest har till exempel utvidgats till att även omfatta de som kan vara impulsiva och utagerande.Boken behandlar konceptualisering av social ångest och neurobiologiska och kognitiva faktorer, samt beskriver psykologisk behandling och läkemedelsbehandling av barn, tonåringar och vuxna. Kapitelförfattarna är verksamma forskare och kliniker specialiserade inom området.Social ångest från teori till behandling vänder sig till psykologer, psykoterapeuter, lärare, läkare, studenter på grundläggande och avancerad nivå, samt till den intresserade allmänheten.

The Borg centiMax Scale, is a psychophysically composed general intensity ratio scale, which could enable more precise inter‐ and intraindividual comparisons of the intensity of depressive symptoms. In the present study, the properties of the centiMax scale were examined in 38 patients with clinical depression and 109 students. Additionally, preliminary centiMax cut‐off scores for mild, moderate and severe depression were estimated. The psychometric properties of the centiMax were found to be satisfactory regarding internal consistency, convergent, discriminative and predictive validity. Moreover, the centiMax was demonstrated to provide meaningful comparisons of symptom intensity, which makes it possible to evaluate the relative importance of individual symptoms in a profile and make more precise comparisons within and between individuals. With regard to intraindividual comparisons, patients rated , for example, the intensity of feeling “guilt” twice as strong as feelings of “being punished,” and the intensity of “loss of pleasure” almost three times as strong as “being punished.” With regard to interindividual comparisons, patients rated e.g., the intensity of “being punished” as 12 times stronger than controls, and the intensity of “worthlessness” about nine times stronger. In conclusion, the centiMax was shown to be reliable and valid for assessing depressive symptoms. The centiMax with level anchored ratio data, appears to be highly advantageous as it permits rather precise values of symptom intensity for intra‐ and interindividual comparisons that could be useful in the diagnostic process and in treatment planning.