The high-novelty-seeking, impulsive subtype of generalized social anxiety disorder

Depress Anxiety. 2008;25(6):535-41. doi: 10.1002/da.20382.

Abstract

This study examined potential subgroups of patients with generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD) based on novelty-seeking tendencies. Eighty-two outpatients with DSM-IV generalized SAD were recruited from an outpatient anxiety clinic and assessed with the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. The novelty-seeking subscales, reflecting risk-prone and disinhibited behavior tendencies, served as dependent measures in a series of cluster analysis procedures. Two qualitatively different SAD subgroups were identified: (1) low novelty-seeking tendencies and (2) high-novelty-seeking tendencies. These groups did not differ in social anxiety symptom severity. Women were less likely to be classified in the high-novelty-seeking group. Clinician severity ratings for comorbid substance use disorders were greater in the high-novelty-seeking group. These findings contribute to growing evidence for the heterogeneity of SAD. High-novelty-seeking, risk-prone, and disinhibited behavior tendencies are a characteristic feature of a distinct subgroup.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal
  • Comorbidity
  • Exploratory Behavior*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / diagnosis*
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology
  • Internal-External Control
  • Male
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Phobic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Psychometrics
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sex Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology