The hidden face of shyness: Understanding and overcoming social anxiety
2
© 1997 WILEY-LISS, INC. DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 5:50–51 (1997) Book Reviews SOCIAL PHOBIA: DIAGNOSIS, ASSESSMENT, AND TREATMENT. Edited by Richard G. Heimberg, Michael R. Liebowitz, Debra A. Hope, and Franklin R. Schneier, Guilford Press, New York, 1995. 435 pp., $45.00. As recently as 1985, Liebowitz and his colleagues described social phobia as a ‘‘neglected’’ anxiety disor- der. Since then, there has been an explosion in clinical and research studies of this disorder. As the field grows, the need for a comprehensive sourcebook evolves. Social Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment, edited by Drs. Heimberg, Liebowitz, Hope, and Schneier, is an excellent book and an im- portant summary of the state of knowledge about so- cial phobia. The editors and most of the contributors have made contributions to our current understanding of social phobia. The book is divided into five sections: Part I—His- tory and Clinical Presentation; Part II—Theoretical and Empirical Approaches, Part III—Assessment, Part IV—Treatment, and Part V—Special Populations. As an individual involved in social phobia research for the past 10 years, I found Part II—Theoretical and Empirical Approaches especially prescient. Part II is composed of five chapters providing five distinct conceptualizations or models of social fears and phobias based on different theoretical or disciplin- ary constructs. These approaches vary from tradi- tional cognitive (by David Clark and Adrian Wells) or neurobiological models (by P.V. Nickell and Thomas Uhde) to ‘‘self presentation’’ model by Mark Leary and Robin Kowalski), a conditioning and ethological model by Susan Mineka and Richard Zinbarg, and finally a model based on a developmental model of shyness (by Monroe Bruch and Jonathan Cheek). The editors wisely refrain from endorsing a particular conceptualization, as insufficient data are available to know which model best explains the syn- drome of social phobia. Additionally, the models are not mutually exclusive; for example, it is likely that neurobio- logical factors underlie temperament which contributes to some aspects of shyness. Readers merely looking for clinical information useful in diagnosing and/or treating an individual with social phobia can safely skip Part II. Another valuable feature of this book is the chapter on assessment and treatment of social phobia in chil- dren and adolescents by Drs. Albano, Dibartolo, Heimberg, and Barlow. This is especially relevant be- cause it was only with the publication of DSM-IV in 1994 that the diagnosis of social phobia could be made in children. In addition, there are comprehensive chapters on the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment, both cogni- tive-behavioral, and pharmacotherapy of patients suf- fering from social phobia. The chapters provide clini- cally useful information based on research findings as well as clinical experience. This book can be read cover to cover, or can be used a reference guide. I would strongly recommend Social Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment to anyone interested in obtaining a thoughtful, thought- provoking review and analysis of current information about this no-longer ‘‘neglected” anxiety disorder. Manuel Tancer* Veteran’s Administration Medical Center Detroit, Michigan *Correspondence to: Manuel Tancer, M.D., Veteran’s Adminis- tration Medical Center, Psychiatry Service (116A), 4646 John R. Street, Detroit, MI 48201-1932. Email: tancer.manuel_ @forum.va.gov Received for publication 15 March 1997; Accepted 15 March 1997 THE HIDDEN FACE OF SHYNESS: UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOMING SOCIAL ANXIETY. Franklin Schneier and Lawrence Welkowitz, Avon Self Help Books, New York, 1996. 271 pp., $11.00. Of the numerous self-help books available on anxi- ety, several are useful, others have fallen by the way- side and yet others have become classics. The doyenne of writers may still be Claire Weekes, whose books on fear and phobia remain as relevant today as they were 20 years ago, notwithstanding the advances in treat- ment and understanding that have taken place since their original appearance. Her books can still be rec- ommended because they communicate a timeless em- pathy that ‘‘this is what anxiety really is,’’ along with a powerful message of hope. It is our belief that The Hidden Face of Shyness: Understanding and Overcoming Social Anxiety, by Franklin Schneier and Lawrence Welkowitz, will achieve the same stature. There has long been need for a readable paperback on social phobia which offers a comprehensive exposition of the disorder, inclusive of the latest medical and psycho- logical thinking, along with a primer on treatment. Their book not only achieves these goals, but success- fully reaches to the reader in such a way that one can say ‘‘these writers really capture what social phobia is all about.’’ The book conveys its message in a manner which helps to make anyone with social phobia feel less stigmatized, less ashamed, better understood, and more hopeful. Moreover, in reviewing their book, we frequently anticipated particular questions only to find that the authors came to address these same questions and provided helpful and assuring answers.
-
Upload
jonathan-davidson -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
6
Transcript of The hidden face of shyness: Understanding and overcoming social anxiety
50 Tancer
© 1997 WILEY-LISS, INC.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 5:50–51 (1997)
Book ReviewsSOCIAL PHOBIA: DIAGNOSIS, ASSESSMENT,AND TREATMENT. Edited by Richard G.Heimberg, Michael R. Liebowitz, Debra A. Hope,and Franklin R. Schneier, Guilford Press, NewYork, 1995. 435 pp., $45.00.
As recently as 1985, Liebowitz and his colleaguesdescribed social phobia as a ‘‘neglected’’ anxiety disor-der. Since then, there has been an explosion in clinicaland research studies of this disorder. As the fieldgrows, the need for a comprehensive sourcebookevolves. Social Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, andTreatment, edited by Drs. Heimberg, Liebowitz,Hope, and Schneier, is an excellent book and an im-portant summary of the state of knowledge about so-cial phobia. The editors and most of the contributorshave made contributions to our current understandingof social phobia.
The book is divided into five sections: Part I—His-tory and Clinical Presentation; Part II—Theoreticaland Empirical Approaches, Part III—Assessment, PartIV—Treatment, and Part V—Special Populations.
As an individual involved in social phobia researchfor the past 10 years, I found Part II—Theoretical andEmpirical Approaches especially prescient. Part II iscomposed of five chapters providing five distinctconceptualizations or models of social fears andphobias based on different theoretical or disciplin-ary constructs. These approaches vary from tradi-tional cognitive (by David Clark and Adrian Wells)or neurobiological models (by P.V. Nickell andThomas Uhde) to ‘‘self presentation’’ model byMark Leary and Robin Kowalski), a conditioning andethological model by Susan Mineka and RichardZinbarg, and finally a model based on a developmentalmodel of shyness (by Monroe Bruch and JonathanCheek). The editors wisely refrain from endorsing aparticular conceptualization, as insufficient data areavailable to know which model best explains the syn-drome of social phobia. Additionally, the models are notmutually exclusive; for example, it is likely that neurobio-logical factors underlie temperament which contributesto some aspects of shyness. Readers merely looking forclinical information useful in diagnosing and/or treatingan individual with social phobia can safely skip Part II.
Another valuable feature of this book is the chapteron assessment and treatment of social phobia in chil-dren and adolescents by Drs. Albano, Dibartolo,Heimberg, and Barlow. This is especially relevant be-cause it was only with the publication of DSM-IV in1994 that the diagnosis of social phobia could be madein children.
In addition, there are comprehensive chapters onthe diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment, both cogni-
tive-behavioral, and pharmacotherapy of patients suf-fering from social phobia. The chapters provide clini-cally useful information based on research findings aswell as clinical experience.
This book can be read cover to cover, or can beused a reference guide. I would strongly recommendSocial Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment toanyone interested in obtaining a thoughtful, thought-provoking review and analysis of current informationabout this no-longer ‘‘neglected” anxiety disorder.
Manuel Tancer*Veteran’s Administration Medical CenterDetroit, Michigan
*Correspondence to: Manuel Tancer, M.D., Veteran’s Adminis-tration Medical Center, Psychiatry Service (116A), 4646 JohnR. Street, Detroit, MI 48201-1932. Email: [email protected]
Received for publication 15 March 1997; Accepted 15 March 1997
THE HIDDEN FACE OF SHYNESS:UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOMINGSOCIAL ANXIETY. Franklin Schneier andLawrence Welkowitz, Avon Self Help Books, NewYork, 1996. 271 pp., $11.00.
Of the numerous self-help books available on anxi-ety, several are useful, others have fallen by the way-side and yet others have become classics. The doyenneof writers may still be Claire Weekes, whose books onfear and phobia remain as relevant today as they were20 years ago, notwithstanding the advances in treat-ment and understanding that have taken place sincetheir original appearance. Her books can still be rec-ommended because they communicate a timeless em-pathy that ‘‘this is what anxiety really is,’’ along with apowerful message of hope. It is our belief that TheHidden Face of Shyness: Understanding and OvercomingSocial Anxiety, by Franklin Schneier and LawrenceWelkowitz, will achieve the same stature. There haslong been need for a readable paperback on socialphobia which offers a comprehensive exposition of thedisorder, inclusive of the latest medical and psycho-logical thinking, along with a primer on treatment.Their book not only achieves these goals, but success-fully reaches to the reader in such a way that one cansay ‘‘these writers really capture what social phobia isall about.’’ The book conveys its message in a mannerwhich helps to make anyone with social phobia feelless stigmatized, less ashamed, better understood, andmore hopeful. Moreover, in reviewing their book, wefrequently anticipated particular questions only to findthat the authors came to address these same questionsand provided helpful and assuring answers.
Book Reviews 51
The book is organized into six parts: (1) an intro-duction, (2) a description of social phobia, (3) the bio-logical, psychological, and social causes of socialphobia, (4) further description of social phobia, in-cluding some celebrity cases, (5) self-help, and (6) pro-fessional treatment. The authors offer a balanced andcomprehensive rendering of all these topics, eachchapter being uniformity excellent and often prefacedby apt quotations, revealing the authors’ literaryscholarship. The first admirable point is offered in thebeginning of Chapter 1, where the authors also makethis book relevant to those who might consider them-selves only mildly affected, in other words, a substan-tial proportion of the general public. The theme ofmissed potential may resonate well with readers whodo not see themselves as suffering from a mental dis-order. The first chapter is clear-cut, connecting socialphobia with a variety of everyday fears. Chapter 2starts with a great T.S. Eliot quote, a point which de-serves to be emphasized since it is so often the quoteswhich ground social phobia in the everyday reality ofperceived experience as well as in the philosophicalrealms. This tactic is designed partially to strike aresonant cord in different readers, be they fans of Ma-donna or Ralph Waldo Emerson. The authors’ senseof humor is also a nice touch. Presenting hopeful reallife examples is more convincing than offering abstractencouragement, and gives the book a very human andempathic face: one where readers may readily recog-nize themselves in their foibles.
The first half of the book focuses on patients andsituations, with user-friendly definitions, an approachwhich draws the reader in and induces motivation tocomprehend the technical information and variousself-quizzes which follow later. The section addressingan evolutionary perspective of social phobia lends va-lidity to the concept, and prevents it from being sim-ply another ‘‘disease of the month.’’ This segment ofthe book adopts a suitably neutral tone, opting to
*Correspondence to: Jonathan Davidson, M.D., Psychiatry Out-patiet Division, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3812,Durham, NC 27710.
Received for publication 15 March 1997; Accepted 15 March 1997
present various theories regarding the origin of socialphobia, rather than favoring one or the other.
The book contains very concise explanations as tosocial phobia; its diversity of opinions may perhapsstimulate questions, and offering its accounts fromOlivier and Streisand helps to humanize performerswho are often seen by others as ‘‘perfect.’’ By makingthese performers mortals with their own insecurities,the authors have perhaps helped readers to feel moreconfident in themselves.
The section on ‘‘Becoming Your Own Therapist’’prevents reading this book from being a passive expe-rience and may serve as a call to action. To find faultwith this book would be to cavil, but we felt that intheir exposition of causes, the authors at times strayedinto discourse which might perhaps be a bit too tech-nical for some readers. The tests form a real strongpoint in the book, but perhaps could have becomeeven more useful if a test of performance anxiety wasincluded, separate from speaking related anxieties.These minor points aside, we found this to be a valu-able and unique book, a very informative overview,and one which should quickly become a benchmark.We have no doubt that it will be widely read, con-sulted and used by lay and professional people alike,and we look forward to it becoming an important toolin the recovery process from social phobia.
Jonathan Davidson*Ben DavidsonPsychiatry Outpatient DivisionDuke University Medical CenterDurham, North Carolina
