title: Examining the Panic Attack Specifier in Social Anxiety Disorder.
abstract: Panic attacks (PAs) are characterized by overwhelming surges of fear and discomfort and are one of the most frequently occurring symptoms in psychiatric populations. The most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (i.e. DSM-5) allows for a panic attack (PA) specifier for all disorders, including social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, there is little research examining differences between individuals diagnosed with SAD with the PA specifier versus individuals diagnosed with SAD without the PA specifier. The current study examined social anxiety, mood, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity social concerns, a risk factor for social anxiety in SAD-diagnosed individuals without (N = 52) and with (N = 14) the PA specifier. The groups differed only in somatic symptoms of anxiety. Result of the current study provides preliminary evidence that the presence of the PA specifier in social anxiety does not result in elevated levels of comorbidity or a more severe presentation of social anxiety.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Florida State University , Tallahasssee , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Florida State University , Tallahasssee , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Oglesby
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Florida State University , Tallahasssee , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Short
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Florida State University , Tallahasssee , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Norman B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000072861:Phobia, Social / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: DSM-5; Social anxiety disorder; panic attacks