In a recent article (Examining the Role of Perfectationism and Intolerance of Uncertainty in the possent Processing in Social Anxiety Disorder-http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10862-015-9516-8) The authors describe a study that tried to investigate the role of the perfectionism and of theintolerance for uncertainty in social phobia.
In particular, the authors wanted to investigate how these two factors can play a role during the post-event evaluation phase; In the disorder of social anxiety, as well as known, there are three specific stages: anticipatory anxiety, situational anxiety and post-event evaluation.
The post -event evaluation is in fact considered a factor of maintenance of social phobia and therefore represents one of the central aspects in understanding the disorder.
The aim of this study was to understand whether intolerance for uncertainty and perfectionism can be considered predictors of the post -event evaluation.
For the study, a sample of 56 subjects with social phobia and high levels of anxiety was recruited in public speaking; The sample were administered questionnaires for perfectionism, intolerance for uncertainty, thesocial anxiety and depression.
The subjects were asked to improvise a speech in front of an audience and immediately after completing a questionnaire to measure the post -event negative evaluation level and the associated unease.
The results have shown a significant correlation between perfectionism and the level of negative evaluation and associated discomfort, as well as between the intolerance for uncertainty and the perceived post -event discomfort.
Furthermore, as a significant fact, it should be noted that between the stairs of perfectionism, parental expectations and parental criticism are able to predict the level of negative evaluation and discomfort beyond social anxiety or depressive symptoms.
It should be emphasized that perfectionism, as well as the intolerance for uncertainty have also proved correlated to the post -event positive assessments, beyond social anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Finally individuals with social anxiety disorder who present high scores in perfectionism or intolerance for uncertainty seem more easily led to think negatively of the social event or to experience the associated unease.
This study therefore seems to suggest the use of specific cognitive strategies aimed at intervening on the aforementioned factors to improve the effectiveness of the treatment for subjects with social anxiety disorder.
