Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

A review of major studies and suggestions for learning more THE MAIN POINT: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the only intervention for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) that has been widely studied and shown to be both efficacious (good outcomes in well-controlled studies in the laboratory) and effective (good outcomes in studies based outside of the laboratory. READ MORE »

Addressing how anxiety in the family can lead to increased anxiety in children

Review of “The interplay between expressed parental anxiety & infant behavioral inhibition predicts infant avoidance in a social referencing paradigm.” THE MAIN POINT: In a recent study, Aktar, Majdandžić, de Vente, and Bögels (2013) examined how anxiety in infants may be predicted by anxious communication/behavior in parents. The authors of this study found that after READ MORE »

Understanding Pharmacological Treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder

A review of “The Evidence-Based Pharmacotherapy of Social Anxiety Disorder” THE MAIN POINT: In a recent study, Blanco, Bragdon, Schneier, and Liebowitz (2013) reviewed the latest research on pharmacological treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The authors conclude that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and venlafaxine should be considered the treatment of choice. In addition, READ MORE »

Social Anxiety and Intimacy

A review of “On the Relationship Among Social Anxiety, Intimacy, Sexual Communication, and Sexual Satisfaction in Young Couples” THE MAIN POINT: In a recent study, Montesi et al. (2013) examined whether Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is associated with less sexual satisfaction, and whether fears of intimacy and satisfaction with sexual communication were mechanisms accounting for READ MORE »

New Clinical Support for Patients and Families

AKFSA and MPI Launch Clinical Support Program The Andrew Kukes Foundation for Social Anxiety and the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute (MPI) are pleased to announce the launch of a new clinical support program for people suffering from severe anxiety and mood disorders. AKFSA and MPI understand all too well the feelings of helplessness that both patients READ MORE »

AKFSA in the Miami Herald

The Miami Herald offered readers a great article on the Moment Magazine “Elephant in the Room Contest” and discussed with our own Lori Blumenstein-Bott about why we at AKFSA knew we had to be a part of it. The 2012 question is: “How has anxiety affected you, your family or the Jewish people in general? READ MORE »

Social Anxiety and Emotion Regulation

A review of “Mood Regulation and Quality of Life in Social Anxiety Disorder: An Examination of Generalized Expectancies for Negative Mood Regulation” THE MAIN POINT: In a recent study, Sung et al. (2012) examined whether a belief that one will not be able to regulate his or her emotional responses was related to social anxiety READ MORE »

Internet Delivered Therapy

A review of “Therapist Experience and Knowledge Acquisition in Internet-Delivered CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized-Controlled Trial” THE MAIN POINT: In a recent study, Andersson, Carlbring, and Furmark (2012) examined whether an internet-delivered CBT treatment for Social Anxiety disorder was superior to an online support group. Results indicated that the internet-based treatment was superior READ MORE »

A Review of “The Natural Course of Social Anxiety Disorder Among Adolescents & Young Adults”

THE MAIN POINT: In a recent study, Beesdo-Baum et al. (2012) examined the course of social anxiety disorder, over several years in a large sample of adolescents and young adults in Germany. The authors found that social anxiety disorder was fairly persistent over time, although individuals did experience some periods with fewer symptoms. This more READ MORE »

AKFSA in the Detroit Jewish News

We want to thank the Detroit Jewish News and Managing Editor Jackie Headapohl for this wonderful piece. It is wonderful to have the support of our local news publications and we work to share Andy’s story and spread awareness and understanding about social anxiety disorder. Read the full article here.