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Post-Event Processing across Multiple Anxiety Presentations: Is it Specific to Social Anxiety Disorder?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2015

Stefan Perera
Affiliation:
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
Karen Rowa*
Affiliation:
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, and McMaster University, Canada
Randi E. McCabe
Affiliation:
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, and McMaster University, Canada
*
Reprint requests to Karen Rowa, Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3K7, Canada. E-mail: krowa@stjoes.ca

Abstract

Background: Post-event processing (PEP) occurs when individuals engage in cognitive rumination following an event or interaction. Although the relation between PEP and social anxiety has been clearly demonstrated, it remains unclear whether PEP is limited to individuals with elevated social anxiety, or if it is also problematic among people with other anxiety presentations. Aims: The present study assessed PEP after the first session of group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in individuals with a variety of anxiety presentations. Method: Participants with a principal diagnosis of SAD (N = 25), those diagnosed with a principal other anxiety disorder with comorbid SAD (N = 18), and those with principal other anxiety diagnoses with no SAD (N = 43) completed baseline measures of social anxiety severity and state anxiety at their first session of CBT and measures of PEP one week later. Results: Participants with a principal diagnosis of SAD experienced the most PEP in the week following the first CBT session, while those with no comorbid SAD experienced the least. Those with comorbid SAD experienced intermediate levels of PEP. The strongest predictor of PEP was state anxiety during the first session. Conclusions: Results suggest that PEP is more problematic for clients with SAD as part of their clinical presentation. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2015 

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