how sociocultural theorists explained the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

A key concept in understanding the role of social experiences in the development of anxiety disorders is the social learning theory (SLT). According to Albert Bandura (1977), the principal founder of SLT, individuals learn new ways of thinking and/or behaving by observing how other people think and behave.

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Does social anxiety disorder differ by culture?

Social anxiety can vary by culture. More in Social Anxiety Disorder. Cultural differences in social anxiety are known to exist. Research tells us that how social anxiety disorder (SAD) presents itself can vary depending on where you live and the culture in which you are raised.

How are psychological disorders treated from a sociocultural perspective?

Drugs, surgery and therapy are all used to treat different types of mental illnesses. The sociocultural view of abnormal psychology focuses on the social and cultural causes and treatments of abnormality. As with other views of psychological disorders, there are specific ways to treat psychological disorders from a sociocultural perspective.

What are the current theoretical models of generalized anxiety disorder?

Current theoretical models of generalized anxiety disorder 1 Avoidance model of worry and GAD. ... 2 Intolerance of uncertainty model (IUM) According to this model, individuals with GAD find situations of uncertainty or ambiguity as ‘stressful and irritating’. 3 The metacognitive model (MCM) of GAD. ... More items...

How does the social environment influence the development of anxiety?

This heightens the key role that social influences have in the development of an anxiety disorder. Likewise, the social environment can greatly influence whether or not individuals believe they are capable of recovery in the here-and-now, regardless of their past experiences.

How does sociocultural psychology explain anxiety?

While characteristics such as living in poverty, experiencing significant daily stressors, and increased exposure to traumatic events are all identified as major contributors to anxiety disorders, additional sociocultural influences such as gender and discrimination have also received a great deal of attention.

What is the sociocultural influence of anxiety disorders?

Researchers have illustrated that certain factors vary by culture and hence lead to a different trajectory of social anxiety disorder: individualism/collectivism, social norms, self-construal, and gender role and gender role identification.

What is sociocultural approach to therapy?

Summary. The sociocultural perspective looks at you, your behaviors, and your symptoms in the context of your culture and background. Clinicians using this approach integrate cultural and religious beliefs into the therapeutic process.

How does culture affect generalized anxiety disorder?

One of the main differences seen across cultures is the way anxiety and depression is expressed. Someone from a culture where it is common to know psychological terms, could easily describe anxiety and depression using those specific words. In other cultures, other words might be more common.

What are sociocultural theories?

What is Sociocultural Theory? Sociocultural theory stresses the role that social interaction plays in psychological development. It suggests that human learning is largely a social process, and that our cognitive functions are formed based on our interactions with those around us who are "more skilled."

What are sociocultural influences?

Sociocultural factors influence people's feelings, values, beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and interactions. Examples include social classes, religious beliefs, wealth distribution, language, business practices, social values, customer preferences, social organization, and attitude towards work.

What is an example of sociocultural approach?

For example, one culture teaches children to play with toys, while the other encourages them to play outdoors. Children from both cultures adapt to what their cultures teach them. If a culture encourages talking, they will learn to do so.

What is an example of sociocultural theory?

Examples of Sociocultural Theory An example of this theory is a child who was born to a poor family will grow up and grow old to be poor also. Another example is that a student attending a football game will act a certain way due to being in a large and energetic crowd.

What is sociocultural approach in psychology?

Sociocultural Perspective is a theory used in fields such as psychology and education and is used to describe awareness of circumstances surrounding individuals and how their behaviors are affected specifically by their surrounding, social and cultural factors.

How does culture affect treatment?

It affects perceptions of health, illness and death, beliefs about causes of disease, approaches to health promotion, how illness and pain are experienced and expressed, where patients seek help, and the types of treatment patients prefer.

How cultural beliefs and social attitudes can affect the diagnosis of mental health concerns?

The experience and manifestation of mental illness are influenced by an individual's social and cultural background. It can determine how individuals communicate their symptoms, influence their understanding of their illness, and determine the coping strategies they adopt and the type of interventions they seek.

What are the culture based anxiety disorders?

Three culturally specific expressions of anxiety disorders were discussed, which are also listed in the DSM cultural concepts of distress. These include khyâl attacks in the Cambodian population, taijin kyofusho of the Korean and Japanese cultures, and ataques de nervios of the Puerto Rican and Dominican cultures.

How does CBT help with psychosis?

The treatment of both anxiety and psychosis with CBT is based on identical underlying principles. Theoretically, both approaches involve focussing on the types of attributions and automatic negative thoughts the client is experiencing as well as aspects of behaviour. Similarly, both approaches require a strong therapeutic alliance in order to be successful. The practical implementation of each intervention is, however, tailored for the disorder. The client suffering from psychosis is likely to have a much wider range of symptoms to deal with and, as such, CBT for psychosis generally takes longer and addresses more complex issues. Part of this will involve the therapist in attempting to understand and interpret the experience and causes of psychosis. This is in contrast to CBT for anxiety which will focus more on problem solving. There is evidence to suggest, however, that anxiety forms a part of certain psychoses, and in this situation its treatment should form part of a wider integrated approach. Finally, outcomes in CBT for psychosis are generally more modest than in anxiety as psychotic symptoms are considerably more challenging for the therapist.

What is CBT therapy?

Modern cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) grew out of the merging of behavioural therapy, developed in the 1950s to 1970s, and cognitive therapy developed in the 1960s (Graham, 2004). Broadly, it attempts to deal directly with a client’s manifest symptoms through both cognitive and behaviour strategies. Cognitive theories target particular irrational beliefs which are thought to be the source of behavioural and emotional problems. Historically, CBT is well-established in the treatment of anxiety disorders, but has only been adapted more recently for use in psychosis (Tarrier, 2002). This essay will first examine the theory and practical treatment of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) using CBT. Then the treatment of psychosis will be considered in the same way, but concentrating on the similarities and differences to the treatment of anxiety.

What is the main feature of GAD?

The main feature of GAD is excessive and uncontrollable worry (Wells, 2002). The DSM-IV states that for a positive diagnosis of GAD, the worry must occur more days than not over a period of six months (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The DSM-IV also lists a number of somatic and cognitive symptoms which include, for example, muscle tension. A variety of different treatments have been used for GAD including both directive and non-directive therapies. Fisher & Durham (1999) examine the effectiveness of different treatment methods and the number of clients making a full recovery. The most successful treatments in their meta-analysis were CBT which achieved a recovery rate of 51% and applied relaxation which achieved a 60% recovery rate.

Is psychosis harder than anxiety?

Psychosis is certainly harder to work with than anxiety because of the sheer number of factors involved and , as a consequence, the outcomes are generally not nearly as good as those for anxiety.

What causes generalized anxiety disorder?

The causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder are associated with various sociocultural factors. According to the DSM-IV-TR, Generalized Anxiety Disorder is diagnosed more frequently in women and in epidemiological studies, the sex ratio is approximately two-thirds female. Corcoran and Walsh (2006) said that GAD is more common in those ...

Who said GAD is more common in lower socioeconomic backgrounds?

Corcoran and Walsh (2006) said that GAD is more common in those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, the unemployed, women who work only in the home, as well as higher education, and higher job levels held by people in higher socioeconomic groups.

What are the causes of GAD?

The causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are still being researched, but the evidence thus far shows biological, cognitive-behavioral and sociocultural factors that contribute to its development. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) confirms that there is evidence that genes play a modest role in the disorder.

Why is GAD important for children?

In children, GAD is often related to expectations for performance in school or athletics even when they are not being judged. The societal messages to achieve and be perfect are often ingrained, possibly contributing to the development of anxiety disorders including GAD.

Is there genetics to generalized anxiety?

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) confirms that there is evidence that genes play a modest role in the disorder. Further research may specify the genetic role as a cause of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Does poverty cause GAD?

Poverty includes many life stressors that may contribute to the development of GAD. Interestingly, Generalized Anxiety Disorder is more common among those who have been previously married than among those who are currently married or have never been married (Corcoran & Walsh, 2006).

Is anxiety a genetic trait?

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV-TR) states that anxiety as a trait has a familial association and recent twin studies suggest a genetic contribution to the development of GAD that may also be closely related to those for Major Depressive Disorder.

How does social environment affect anxiety?

Additionally, the social environment is a key factor in the development of certain beliefs about oneself and one's abilities. Thus, the social environment influences our cognitive appraisals. This heightens the key role that social influences have in the development of an anxiety disorder.

How does role modeling affect anxiety?

As you can see, the way early role models handled their own anxiety may directly, or indirectly, teach a child to respond in a similar manner. This will influence whether that child will subsequently experience his or her own anxiety.

What is social learning theory?

A key concept in understanding the role of social experiences in the development of anxiety disorders is the social learning theory (SLT). According to Albert Bandura (1977), the principal founder of SLT, individuals learn new ways of thinking and/or behaving by observing how other people think and behave. Unlike the more traditional view of ...

What is the role of a therapist in CBT?

Indeed, in CBT treatment for anxiety disorders, the therapist becomes an important, new role model in the therapy participant's social environment. The therapist expresses confidence in the participant's abilities. The therapist models helpful or adaptive behaviors. The therapists also support the participant's efforts to apply these new behaviors ...

Can social phobias develop?

Instead, social experiences represent potentially threatening and risky situations. As a natural outcome of these learning experiences, a Social Phobia may develop. Similarly, some people with Panic Disorder may have learned at a young age that any unexplained bodily sensation signals a dangerous or dire illness.

Is avoidance of objects or situations that are feared by caregivers a social learning?

It is irrefutable. Therefore, the avoidance of objects or situations that are feared by caregivers is nearly guaranteed. Although a large portion of social learning stems from direct interaction with caregivers, social learning may also occur through the observation of other influential role models.

Does social learning help with anxiety?

Thus, while social learning may contribute to the development of an anxiety disorder, it also facilitates recovery from an anxiety disorder .

What is the first component of generalized anxiety disorder?

The first component states that individuals suffering from generalized anxiety disorder experience emotional hyper-excitement. In other words, their emotions are more intense than those of most people. This applies to both positive and negative emotions, but particularly negative ones.

What is the avoidance model of worry based on?

The avoidance model of worry (6) is based on Mowrer’s two-factor theory of fear (1974). Likewise, it also derives some of its concepts from Foa and Kozak’s emotional processing theory (7, 8).

What is the metacognitive model of GAD?

The metacognitive model of GAD postulates that individuals with GAD experience two types of worry. Wells, the author of the model, defined Type 1 worries. This is when a person worries about non-cognitive events, such as external situations or physical symptoms (Wells, 2005).

How long does anxiety last in GAD?

In addition, in GAD, patients suffer from anxiety or worrying most days for a minimum period of six months.

What is the best treatment for GAD?

Psychiatric medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are used to treat GAD (3, 4, 5). Pharmacotherapy can be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms. However, medication doesn’t seem to have a significant impact on worrying, which is the defining characteristic of GAD (3).

What is the DSM-5?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines anxiety in several ways, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This disorder is characterized by the presence of anxiety and excessive, persistent concerns that may be difficult to control. These concerns can be over various events or activities and are the result ...

When was GAD first introduced?

The third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III, APA, 1980 ) initially introduced GAD as a single diagnosis. However, professionals often used it as a residual diagnosis for individuals who didn’t meet the diagnostic criteria of other anxiety disorders (1).

Why does social anxiety disorder vary?

This makes sense because different cultures have different social rules and expectations.

What are some examples of social anxiety?

In general, there are a number of aspects of culture that may affect the expression of social anxiety. For example, the degree of individualism (idocentric focus) versus collectivist orientation (allocentric focus) can be important.

Can mental health professionals diagnose social anxiety?

In addition to differences in social anxiety that come about directly from varying cultures, research has shown that mental health professionals may differ in how they diagnose social anxiety disorder depending on their culture. 1  In certain cultures, there are even specific types of disorders that are similar to social anxiety disorder.

Is social anxiety common in East Asian countries?

In general, social anxiety is less common in East Asian countries. Findings from the surveys indicated 12-month prevalence rates of 7.1 to 7.9 percent in the United States versus 0.4 percent in Taiwan.

Do Asians respond to SAD treatment?

There is no research evidence to support a difference in how people respond to treatment for SAD among different cultures. However, research has shown that Asians in North America tend to delay treatment more than those of other cultures. 1 

Is social anxiety a cultural or social disorder?

Overall, social fears are dependent on the cultural context in which you live. If you are being evaluated for social anxiety disorder, it is important that your mental health professional makes a diagnosis that takes into account your cultural and social context.

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) differs from earlier therapies. Its primary focus is the present "here and now," rather than on the past. It assumes that people in recovery can make progress without having to unearth the past in order to determine the origins of their symptoms.

Is anxiety a psychiatric condition?

In fact, anxiety disorders are one of the most treatable psychiatric conditions; meaning, treatment is highly likely to produce a positive outcome (i.e., a reduction in symptoms). Not only do we know what does work, but research has also identified what does not work.

Is psychotherapy effective for anxiety?

Other therapeutic strategies tend to be ineffective for anxiety disorders. This includes supportive psychotherapy (often thought of as "talk therapy") and psychodynamic/ psychoanalytic therapy. These approaches may be helpful for some issues. However, research has not demonstrated effectiveness for the symptoms of anxiety.

What are the differences between cultures?

One of the main differences seen across cultures is the way anxiety and depression is expressed . Someone from a culture where it is common to know psychological terms, could easily describe anxiety and depression using those specific words. In other cultures, other words might be more common.

Does culture affect anxiety?

May 15, 2019. Influences of Cultural Differences in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression. Share. No. Culture affects the way we express our thoughts, behaviors and emotions. It is therefore not surprising that there are cultural differences in the way anxiety and depression is manifested and treated.

Should someone with anxiety seek treatment?

The most important fact is that, regardless of culture , someone who is suffering from anxiety or depression should continue to seek treatments until the right one is found. There are many mental health professionals and clinics that are striving to be culturally sensitive.

Can anxiety be expressed in words?

In some other cultures, anxiety and depression might not even be expressed in words. It can take the form of physical symptoms, such as headaches, backaches or stomach discomfort. Sadness, fear and preoccupation can be channeled through physical symptoms.

What is social anxiety disorder?

Individuals with social anxiety disorder tend to hold unattainable or extremely high social beliefs and expectations. Furthermore, they often engage in preconceived maladaptive assumptions that they will behave incompetently in social situations and that their behaviors will lead to terrible consequences.

What is cognitive perspective in anxiety?

Maladaptive assumptions are routinely observed in individuals with anxiety disorders, as they often interpret events as dangerous and overreact to potentially stressful events, which contributes to a heightened overall anxiety level . These negative appraisals, in combination with a biological predisposition to anxiety likely contribute to the development of anxiety symptoms (Gallagher et al., 2013).

How does modeling help with social phobias?

Modeling is another behavioral explanation of the development of specific and social phobias. In modeling, an individual acquires a far through observation and imitation (Bandura & Rosenthal, 1966). For example, when a young child observes their parent display irrational fears of an animal, the child may then begin to display similar behaviors. Similarly, observing another individual being ridiculed in a social setting may increase the chances of the development of social anxiety, as the individual may become fearful that they would experience a similar situation in the future. It is speculated that the maintenance of these phobias is due to the avoidance of the feared item or social setting, thus preventing the individual from learning that the item/social situation is not something that should be feared.

How does social anxiety affect performance?

This over-evaluation of social performance negatively reinforces future avoidance of social situations.

What are the factors that contribute to anxiety?

While characteristics such as living in poverty, experiencing significant daily stressors, and increased exposure to traumatic events are all identified as major contributors to anxiety disorders, additional sociocultural influences such as gender and discrimination have also received a great deal of attention.

Why are women more likely to use emotion focused coping?

Furthermore, women are more likely to use emotion-focused coping, which is less effective in reducing distress than problem-focused coping (McLean & Anderson, 2009). These factors may increase levels of stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) within women that leave them susceptible to develop symptoms of anxiety.

Which axis of the brain is activated by the feared stimulus?

First, the amygdala triggers the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to prepare for immediate action— either to fight or flight. The second pathway is activated by the feared stimulus itself, by sending a sensory signal to the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, to determine if the threat is real or imagined.

What Are The Causes Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Distorted Cognitions as A Cause of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Sociocultural Factors and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• The causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder are associated with various sociocultural factors. According to the DSM-IV-TR, Generalized Anxiety Disorder is diagnosed more frequently in women and in epidemiological studies, the sex ratio is approximately two-thirds female. Corcoran and Walsh (2006) said that GAD is more common in those from lower soci...

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