Sensory-processing sensitivity in social anxiety disorder: Relationship to harm avoidance and diagnostic subtypes

Abstract

Sensory-processing sensitivity is assumed to be a heritable vulnerability factor for shyness. The present study is the first to examine sensory-processing sensitivity among individuals with social anxiety disorder. The results showed that the construct is separate from social anxiety, but it is highly correlated with harm avoidance and agoraphobic avoidance. Individuals with a generalized subtype of social anxiety disorder reported higher levels of sensory-processing sensitivity than individuals with a non-generalized subtype. These preliminary findings suggest that sensory-processing sensitivity is uniquely associated with the generalized subtype of social anxiety disorder.Recommendations for future research are discussed.

Relationship Between the Temperament Trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Emotional Reactivity

“…SPS and mental health outcomes.Sensory processing sensitivity has been associated with poor mental health outcomes (Benham, 2006;Evers, Rasche, & Schabracq, 2008;Hofmann & Bitran, 2007;Liss, Mailloux, & Erchull, 2008;Liss, Timmel, Baxley, & Killingsworth, 2005;Meyer, Ajchenbrenner, & Bowles, 2005;Meyer & Carver, 2000;Neal, Edelmann, & Glachan, 2002) and higher levels of stress and ill health (Benham, 2006;Evers et al, 2008). SPS associations with poor mental health outcomes include high scores on self-reported anxiety, but not depression (Neal et al, 2002).…”

“…A number of studies have equated SPS with psychopathology, negative mental health outcomes, stress and illness (Benham, 2006;Evers, Rasche, & Schabracq, 2008;Hofmann & Bitran, 2007;Liss, Mailloux, & Erchull, 2008;Liss, Timmel, Baxley, & Killingsworth, 2005;Meyer, Ajchenbrenner, & Bowles, 2005;Meyer & Carver, 2000;Neal, Edelmann, & Glachan, 2002). Importantly, all but one of the studies used self-report, and not clinical, measures, precluding any conclusions about the clinical validity of the findings.…”

Social Anxiety and Response to Touch

“…Moreover, it was the avoidance of social situations rather than the anxiety levels that were more strongly associated with tactile sensation abnormalities. Sensory-processing sensitivity, as an individual trait, is thought to manifest itself in the form of avoidance of overstimulation and has been found to be a particular risk factor for social anxiety (Hofmann & Bitran, 2007). Importantly, it suggests those who are socially anxious are predisposed to process information from the environment differently, and tactile stimuli may be one domain in which they are particularly vulnerable (Craske, 2003).…”

An experimental study of the psychological impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on highly sensitive persons

“…First, highly sensitive individuals, compared with non-HSPs, suffer frequently from stress and anxiety in social and crowded situations (Aron, 1996). Second, they have a lower level of self-acceptance as well as negative attitudes and resistance towards crowded and/or social situations (Liss et al, 2005;Benham, 2006;Hofmann & Bitran, 2007;Aron, 1996). The MBSR program has been shown to be effective in reducing the above-mentioned problems (Miller, Fletcher, & Kabat-Zinn, 1995;Shapiro, Schwartz, & Bonner, 1998;Chang, Palesh, Caldwell, Glasgow, Abramson, Luskin, Gill, Burke, & Koopman, 2004;Shapiro, Astin, Bishop, & Cordova, 2005, Kabat-Zinn, Massion, Kristeller, Peterson, Fletcher, Pbert, Lenderking & Santorelli, 1992, Carson & Langer, 2006, Thompson & Waltz, 2007.…”

“…A number of studies conducted in both clinical and non-clinical groups showed that participating in the MBSR program leads to anxiety reduction (e.g., Miller et al, 1995, Shapiro et al, 1998, Kabat-Zinn et al, 1992. Because HSPs have a higher sensitivity for (social) anxiety (Hofmann & Bitran, 2007;Aron, 1996), it is expected that they could benefit from the MBSR program.…”