Comparison of Social Phobia Subtypes Using Stroop Tests

Patients with circumscri bed speech phobia, generalized social phobia, and generalized social phobia with avoidant personality disorder were assessed with modified Stroop color-naming tests. The two generalii social phobia groups demonstrated cognitive interference on a General Social Stimuli Stmop Test (e.g., party), which was not evident in the circumscribed speech phobia group. As expected, cognitive interference was manifested across all groups in a Specific Speech Stimuli Stroop Test (e.g., speech). Interference effects were found among all groups in a Negative Social Evaluative Stmop Test (e.g., foolish) as well. No differences were noted on any test between the generalized social phobia patients with and without avoidant personality disorder. Results support the distinctiveness of the circumscribed speech phobia group. Together with the similarity of response between the generalized social phobia groups with and without avoidant personality disorder, findings are consistent with contemporary conceptualizations of subtypes of social phobia. Correspondence should be addressed to Daniel W. McNeil, 111 Oglebay, Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown. WV 265066049. This study was supported in part by an award from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology @CAST #HRO-O23) to Daniel W. McNeil. Some of these data were presented at the meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New York, NY (1991, November). Other graduate student and undergraduate research associates from the Anxiety and Psychophysiology Research Laboratory at Oklahoma State University, in addition to some of the authors, were an integral part of this study and a larger project on social phobia. Their contributions are sincerely appreciated. Martin L. Boone is now at the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, Chestnut Ridge Hospital, 930 Chestnut Ridge Road, West Viinia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 265052854. Leslie E. Carter is now at Huntington Rehabilitation Hospital, 6900 West Country Club Drive, Huntington, WV 25705. Michael R. Lewin is now at the Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 900241563.