Self-Focused Attention in Treatment of Social Anxiety: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Background and purpose: Self-focused attention is a notable feature of social anxiety. The Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model underscores the importance of both working on reducing excessive and uncontrollable self-focused attention. For this purpose, Wells (1990) developed an Attention Training Treatment (ATT) designed to modify dimensions of attention considered to be important in the maintenance of emotional vulnerability. The purpose of the current study was assessing the effect of ATT on anxiety and self-focused attention in socially anxious of adolescences. Materials and methods: 184 participants were selected based on their score in Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A), and Beck Depression Inventory. Then, after a social task, adolescent were asked to complete the Focus of Attention Questionnaire (FAQ). At last, 16 participants with high scores in FAQ were classified into experimental and control groups. Experimental group received 8 sessions of ATT. Two groups answered SAS-A and FAQ after sessions of 4 and 8 and also 1 month follow-up. Results: Experimental group evidenced statistically reductions in social anxiety and self focused attention. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that anxiety can be lastingly modified through a brief attention manipulation without the use of other cognitive behavioral techniques. Future studies should to explore th