Authors
Vera Bouwman, Lynn Mobach, Bethany Teachman, Elske Salemink
Publication date
2024/4/29
Description
Despite various efforts in the field, no consistent predictors of treatment outcome in anxiety disorders have been identified. Based on the Dynamic Systems Theory, this study proposes a novel, dynamic predictor of treatment outcome in those with public speaking anxiety. Using intensive assessments, it was assessed whether speed of recovery to one’s interpretation bias equilibrium after an experimentally-induced perturbation (ie, interpretation training targeting negative interpretation bias as a critical maintaining factor for anxiety) predicts subsequent outcome to online exposure treatment. Women with subclinical public speaking anxiety completed a positive interpretation training (n= 50) or a neutral interpretation training (n= 50). Consistent with our central hypothesis, results showed that slower recovery to one’s interpretation bias equilibrium was associated with a greater decline in fear of public speaking after exposure treatment. These results show the potential of a dynamic approach in predicting treatment outcome in public speaking anxiety.