Detection and distraction effects for threatening information in social phobia and change after treatment

This work examines differences in the detection and distraction by social-threat-related information between a social phobia group (SP; N = 33) and a normal control group (NC; N = 32). The change obtained after psychological treatment is also studied for the SP group. A paper-and-pencil visual search, task is used, in which, the emotional valence of the target (social threat, physical threat, and neutral words) and distractor (social threat, physical threat, neutral, and nonsense words) verbal stimuli is manipulated. Results indicate that there are no differences in the detection of social-threat targets between SP and NC participants. However, the performance of SP individuals is more impaired when distractor stimuli related to social threat are presented, regardless of the target valence. This increased distraction by social-threat-related stimuli is reduced after psychological treatment, and this decrease is maintained at 6-month follow-up.