Social anxiety and associations with eating psychopathology: Mediating effects of fears of evaluation.

Recent work suggests unique relations among features of social anxiety disorder and eating disorder pathology. Thus, it may be important to determine specific facets of social anxiety that account for the relation between it and eating disorders. Given the similarities in social-evaluative concerns in both sets of symptoms, we hypothesized that fears of both positive and negative evaluation would each independently account for the relationship between social anxiety symptoms and eating pathology among college females (N=167).

Gender moderates the effect of exercise on anxiety sensitivity.

A moderate to vigorous intensity exercise program is emerging as a promising strategy for reducing anxiety sensitivity (AS). Initial evidence suggests that the effects of exercise on mental health outcomes may vary as a function of gender, with men benefitting more than women. Building upon this evidence, the present study tested the hypothesis that the effect of exercise on AS would vary as a function of gender, such that the effect would be stronger for men than for women.

Associations Between Fear of Negative Evaluation and Eating Pathology During Intervention and 12-Month Follow-up.

Fear of negative evaluation, a core feature of social anxiety disorder, has been prospectively related to eating pathology over and above other established risk factors, suggesting that it may be an important cognitive risk factor for eating disorders. The present study examined reciprocal longitudinal relations among fear of negative evaluation and eating disorder risk factors using a female undergraduate sample (=82) enrolled in an eating disorder prevention program. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that fear of negative evaluation was a determinant of subsequent body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms.

D-cycloserine augmentation of cognitive behavioral group therapy of social anxiety disorder: prognostic and prescriptive variables.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to identify individual characteristics that (a) predict symptom improvement with group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD; i.e., prognostic variables) or (b) moderate the effects of d-cycloserine (DCS) versus placebo augmentation of CBT for SAD (i.

Let's get physical: a contemporary review of the anxiolytic effects of exercise for anxiety and its disorders.

Research over the past few decades has focused on the therapeutic effects of physical exercise among those affected by mood disorders. Only recently has attention turned to maladaptive and persistent expressions of anxiety, with a growing body of evidence indicating promise for exercise as an effective treatment for some of the anxiety disorders. The current review provides a comprehensive account of contemporary research examining the anxiolytic effects of exercise for anxiety disorders.

The efficacy of vigorous-intensity exercise as an aid to smoking cessation in adults with elevated anxiety sensitivity: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although cigarette smoking is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States (US), over 40 million adults in the US currently smoke. Quitting smoking is particularly difficult for smokers with certain types of psychological vulnerability. Researchers have frequently called attention to the relation between smoking and anxiety-related states and disorders, and evidence suggests that panic and related anxiety vulnerability factors, specifically anxiety sensitivity (AS or fear of somatic arousal), negatively impact cessation.

Augmentation of exposure therapy with post-session administration of D-cycloserine.

Background: Pre-session administration of d-cycloserine (DCS) has been found to augment exposure therapy outcomes in a variety of anxiety disorders. To be able to enhance learning only for successful exposure sessions, it would be beneficial to have the option of administering DCS after rather than before the session, a strategy encouraged by pre-clinical work. We believe the present study is the first published report on the efficacy of post-session administration of DCS in humans.

Exploring exercise as an avenue for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders constitute a significant public health problem. Current gold standard treatments are limited in their effectiveness, prompting the consideration of alternative approaches. In this review, we examine the evidence for exercise as an intervention for anxiety disorders.

Physical activity as a moderator of the association between anxiety sensitivity and binge eating.

Individuals with elevated anxiety sensitivity (AS; i.e., fear of somatic arousal) may binge eat to reduce emotional distress.