Avoidant decision-making in social anxiety disorder: A laboratory task linked to in vivo anxiety and treatment outcome

Pittig A, Alpers GW, Niles AN, Craske MG (2015)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

Behaviour Research and Therapy Elsevier

Book Volume: 73

Pages Range: 96-103

DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2015.08.003

Abstract

Recent studies on reward-based decision-making in the presence of anxiety-related stimuli demonstrated that approach-avoidance conflicts can be assessed under controlled laboratory conditions. However, the clinical relevance of these decision conflicts has not been demonstrated. To this end, the present study investigated avoidant decisions in treatment-seeking individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD). In a gambling task, advantageous choices to maximize gains were associated with task-irrelevant angry faces and disadvantageous choices with happy faces. The clinical relevance of avoidant decisions for in vivo anxiety in a social stress situation (public speaking) were examined (n = 44). In a subsample (n = 20), the predictive value for a reduction of avoidance following behavioral therapy was also evaluated. Results indicated a close link between more frequent avoidant decisions and elevated in vivo anxiety. Moreover, individuals who showed a deficit in the goal-directed adjustment of their decisions also showed higher and sustained distress during the social stressor and reported less decrease of avoidance following treatment. The findings highlight the importance of an avoidant decision-making style for the experience of acute distress and the maintenance of avoidance in SAD. Assessing avoidant decision-making may help to predict the response to behavioral treatments.

Authors with CRIS profile

Andre Pittig Professorship for Translational Psychotherapy

Involved external institutions

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) US United States (USA) (US) Universität Mannheim DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Pittig, A., Alpers, G.W., Niles, A.N., & Craske, M.G. (2015). Avoidant decision-making in social anxiety disorder: A laboratory task linked to in vivo anxiety and treatment outcome. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 73, 96-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2015.08.003

MLA:

Pittig, Andre, et al. "Avoidant decision-making in social anxiety disorder: A laboratory task linked to in vivo anxiety and treatment outcome." Behaviour Research and Therapy 73 (2015): 96-103.

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