Experimental Modification of Interpretation Bias in Socially Anxious Children: Changes in Interpretation, Anticipated Interpersonal Anxiety, and Social Anxiety Symptoms

We report on an experimental manipulation of interpretation bias in socially anxious youths. A non-clinical sample of 10-11-year-olds selected for high social anxiety was trained over three sessions to endorse benign rather than negative interpretations of potentially threatening social scenarios. This group was subsequently less likely to endorse negative interpretations of new ambiguous social situations than children in a test-retest condition. Children who received interpretation training also showed reduced trait social anxiety and reported significantly less anxiety about an anticipated interpersonal encounter, compared with the control group.