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01-09-2019 | Selective Mutism | Original Contribution

Fears and fear-related cognitions in children with selective mutism

Authors: Felix Vogel, Angelika Gensthaler, Julia Stahl, Christina Schwenck

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 9/2019

Abstract

Selective mutism (SM) is classified under the category of anxiety disorders in DSM-5 [1], although concrete fears that underlie the condition are not specified contrary to all other anxiety disorders. Given the lack of studies systematically investigating fears in SM, content and frequency of concrete fears as well as related cognitions have remained unclear so far. One hundred and twenty-four participants [M = 13.25 years (SD = 3.24), range 8–18 years] with SM (n = 65), social phobia (SP n = 18) or with typical development (TD n = 51) took part in an online survey. Participants with SM (n = 65) answered an open-ended question concerning fears that might cause the consistent failure to speak in select situations. Additionally, participants with SM, SP and TD completed a survey containing 34 fear-related cognitions that might occur in speech-demanding situations. Open text answers were systematically evaluated by extracting higher-order categories using a Qualitative Content Analysis. Single item scores of the survey were compared between the three groups. 59% of all spontaneously reported fears were assigned to the cluster of social fears. Other reported fears represented the categories fear of mistakes (28%), language-related fears (8%) and voice-related fears (5%). The SM- and SP group only differed regarding the cognition that one’s own voice might sound funny (SM > SP). Social fears and the fear of mistakes account for the majority of fears in SM. Therefore, future interventions should consider specifically targeting these types of fears.

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81.

Title: Fears and fear-related cognitions in children with selective mutism
Authors: Felix Vogel
Angelika Gensthaler
Julia Stahl
Christina Schwenck
Publication date: 01-09-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Selective Mutism
Selective Mutism
Social Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 9/2019
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-019-01281-0

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Fears and fear-related cognitions in children with selective mutism

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