The Success of Treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder Essay Example for Free

The Success of Treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder Essay With the increased dependence on others because of the boom in societies’ populations, social skills are becoming more of a necessity in the normal functioning of individuals. Behaviors which obstruct the normal functioning of individuals in social situations are therefore a growing cause of concern. One such behavior is the psychological disorder, social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by a persistent fear of negative evaluation from others in social situations to which the individual is exposed (Stein, 2006). Because of this increase in fear of experiencing humiliation, there is an observed pattern of irregular functioning as well as clinically diagnosed distress in the individual (Stein, 2006). This therefore stops the suffering individual from relating to others in regular social situations. Furthermore, the distress resulting from the fear incapacitates the individual from other day-to-day patterns of behavior. Social anxiety disorder manifests during early stages of human development and has been found to be one of the most prevalent mental disorders (Stein, 2006). Because of this, an increase in concern has been raised for the treatment of the disorder, especially because the nature of the disorder prevents individuals from seeking treatment of the same. This paper will deal with two therapies used in treating social anxiety disorder. The treatment procedures offered by cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy, the use of medicine in treatments. This will be done by reviewing several articles written by experts studying methods of treating the symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Also the effectiveness of the different treatment procedures in helping clients will be discussed. By the end of this paper a clearer picture will have been made of the research methods utilized in studying social anxiety disorder, the treatments suggested, and the effectiveness of such treatments. The Importance of Working Alliance Hayes, Hopes, VanDyke, and Heimberg (2007) conducted a study regarding the effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy in addressing the concerns of patients suffering from social anxiety disorder. One of the processes of cognitive-behavior therapy involves the firm establishment of an interpersonal relationship between the client and therapist. This relationship is known as the working alliance. Working alliance goes beyond forming a bond and involves the foundation of an agreement between the client and therapist regarding the tasks and goals of the therapy proceedings (Hayes et al., 2007). In their research study, Hayes et al. (2007) studied the role that working alliance played in having treatments result in effective treatments. The research was conducted through first assessing that the patients were seeking treatment for social anxiety disorder and that no other therapist was being consulted (Hayes et al., 2007). Participants were then asked to rate the level of distress they felt before entering the therapy. After the session, participants and third-person observers rated the perceived level of working alliance as well as the degree of helpfulness of the session (Hayes et al., 2007). Only the first session was studied by the researchers as they believed this first session was important in knowing if the client would come back or not. This may have limited the results as the researchers couldn’t make sure if the long-term effectiveness of the treatment is because of working alliance or because of other reasons. The research ended with the finding that high levels of working alliance didn’t lower the reported level of depression of the clients (Hayes et al., 2007). However, the treatment did get positive reports as to helpfulness. Those participants who reported moderate levels of working alliance showed decreases in depression (Hayes et al., 2007). In fact, those who reported before the session the highest levels of depression and showed the greatest decrease in depression after the session were those who reported average working alliance levels (Hayes et al., 2007). The research raises the question whether or not an entirely open relationship with therapists would help change the non-helpful social behavior of participants. Also, the research does not clearly point out whether it is the process which clients say is helpful or if it’s working alliance. More than anything, this study points out the need to study more the processes of cognitive-behavior therapy so that it will be understood what particular process helps social anxiety disorder patients. The Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy A research study conducted through the review of relevant past research was conducted by Zaider and Heimberg (2003). Past research was tapped through the use of literature searches, reference lists and research databases (Zaider Heimberg, 2003). This provided the researchers with a long list of research papers to review – more than 100 papers were found but only 80 were accepted based on relevance. This method serves to summarize research conducted over the last fifteen years, making clear the contribution of each individual research conducted. But the study is limited because of the method used. Data still needs to be collected by studying the conclusions and proposals of this review of past literature. The studies reviewed also reflected several treatment procedures used in cognitive-behavior therapy. To name some of these treatments: relaxation training, social skills training, exposure, cognitive-restructuring techniques, and combined exposure and cognitive restructuring (Zaider Heimberg, 2003). However, the general conclusion that could be made was that the treatments were most efficient when applied together. The exact combination of treatments that would give the best results was not made clear though. But the research did conclude that the use of cognitive-behavior therapy greatly improves social performance fears (Zaider Heimberg, 2003). Moreover, the therapy resulted in the improvement of social skills and feelings of depression associated with the disorder (Zaider Heimberg, 2003). The research reflects that cognitive-behavior therapy is quick to answer the needs of social anxiety disorder. But it doesn’t answer the question of which aspect of the therapy directly contributes to the improvement. With the many treatments that may be used in cognitive-behavior therapy it is vague which one results in the best stage of improvement. There is also no explanation regarding the concepts used in this theory which help patients overcome their disability. Comparison between Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Pharmacological Interventions A handout for clinical practice guidelines (Paris, 2006) further discussed the efficacy of cognitive-behavior therapy in treating social anxiety disorder. The goal was to determine methods of improving the helpfulness of the therapy. This was done through a comparison of the data obtained from past researchers treating social anxiety disorder with three different treatments: cognitive-behavior therapy alone, cognitive-behavior therapy combined with prescribed medications, and pharmacology alone (Paris, 2006). However, this comparison method doesn’t control for certain conditions which might not be present in all studies. This would leave room for error in the data obtained and not make the conclusions objective and reliable. The research also enumerates the treatments applied in cognitive-behavior therapy. The list is similar to the list provided by Zaider and Heimberg (2003), as discussed earlier, except for the deletion of relaxation training and the addition of education and emotion-regulation approaches (Paris, 2006). When the researchers compared the effectiveness of the three above-mentioned conditions, no significant were noted. Therefore there were no added benefits to the use of the therapies in combination as compared to applying them separately. However, the findings did show that after stopping treatment, improvements made through cognitive-behavior therapy lasted longer than those in pharmacotherapy (Paris, 2006). Such findings raise the question as to why cognitive-behavior therapies are not the default treatment for social anxiety disorder. Combined Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and Pharmacotherapy As has been said in the previous study, there have been little to no proof showing the benefits of combining cognitive-behavior therapy with pharmocological treatments. However, medications have been found to lead to faster relief than cognitive-behavior therapy which takes a long and slow process (Rodebaugh Heimberg, 2005). On the other hand, medications have been associated with higher possibilities of relapse while cognitive-behavior therapy has shown low cases of relapse (Rodebaugh Heimberg, 2005). This accounts for the potential of exploring options for a combined treatments therapy. The possibility was studied through a review of current and recent research concerning combination treatments. But this review method fails to give a thorough control for factors which may affect the studied result along with the studied factors. There is no certainty of direct compatibility between studies. The review of the current state of knowledge served to show that some experiments had resulted in the growth of improvement effects through the combination of the two therapies (Rodebaugh Heimberg, 2005). However, this progress was observed only in the short-term effect of the therapy and no data is yet present as to the long-term benefits provided by combined treatments. It has further been found that clients who go through therapy may think that real-life practice situations as safe only when under medication. But when medication is stopped, the fear may return. This shows in truth, little improvement is made in the therapy sessions. This research brings about more questions for future research than it does provide answers. Of particular focus for future research would be the long-term rise in improvements through the early prescription of medication to a client and the delayed start of psychotherapy. Given that the effectiveness of therapy undergone while under medication may only be observed after the stop of such medication, therapy must extend after medication has been stopped. This picture gives a probable combination treatment set up. Pharmacological Treatments of Social Anxiety Disorder Stein (2006) presented his study considering the effect of clinical practices combined with advancements in medical research. This was done through the review of current clinical guidelines. The effects of known medications when applied to individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder were also considered. This method serves to provide a clear picture of the role of pharmacology in the clinical setting. It also identifies the most effective medicine to prescribe to a client asking for help for social anxiety disorder. Unlike other studies which only find basis on the helpfulness of particular pharmaceutical products in combating disorders, this method, evidence-based treatment, looks at clinical data in order to identify the best medication may be given to a client (Stein, 2006). The study reported that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors were the primary pharmacological treatments recommended for manifesting social anxiety disorder (Stein, 2006). It was explained that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors serve as effective short- and long-term treatments for social anxiety disorder. This treatment has been found to be superior to other medications available for social anxiety disorder. However, the occurrence of relapse was common in cases where treatments were not continued. It is therefore best to give long-term treatment for maximum improvement of the patient. Long- term treatment would also decrease the frequency of relapse. Instead of concluding that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors alone should be used for treatment, this research only encourages more research. Although the best possible medication has been identified, the contribution of other known medications has not been forgotten. Stein leaves open the possibility of creating new medicines for the treatment of social anxiety disorder with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as the main ingredient. Summary of Research Material Reviewed To summarize the research findings discussed above, the only successful psychotherapy so far applied to social anxiety disorder is cognitive-behavior therapy. This may be because of the close working alliance between the client and therapist as well as the real life experimentation which acts as practice for the client. This treatment has been found to have more long-lasting improvements than pharmacological treatments. However, on the basis of quality of improvements observed, no significant difference has been found between cognitive-behavioral and pharmacological treatments. It is theorized though that the best improvement environment might be achieved through the combination of the two treatments. However, there is little evidence collected to support such a theory. It should also be noted that the most effective medication, on the basis of evidence from clinical records, has been identified as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. But the combination of this medication with others has not been considered or studied yet. Even though the research findings have not pinpointed the specific predictors of improvement in clients’ conditions, it has been shown that indeed social anxiety disorder may be treated. In fact the challenge for researchers is to make treatment conditions better in order to maximize the improvements already offered by current therapies. Reflection on Research Findings The research has served to the existing state of research clear. From the conclusions of the researchers it can be seen that successful treatments of social anxiety disorder have been achieved. However, the reliability of medication as a treatment for this disorder remains uncertain. Medication gives quick relief of the symptoms of social anxiety disorder. However, when taking medicine is stopped, relapse is not only likely, it is sure to follow. On the other hand, cognitive-behavior therapy offers a more stable process of improvement with fewer chances of relapse. Although this therapy takes longer in showing improvement, the wide variety of treatments it offers allows for the specialization of client-therapy interactions based on the specific concerns and situation of individual clients. This allows for a stronger foundation of change. This would improve interaction even outside the clinical setting. This is quite different from the role of medication which is only to prevent the manifestation of symptoms without addressing the cause of the actual behavior being treated. Although a combination treatment is hoped for, it should be remembered that medication might only bring about a false sense of reliance. Medication should therefore not be regarded as the primary intervention mechanism. It’s psychotherapy which empowers the individual to face different social situations. Cognitive-behavioral therapy gives the patient the ability to develop coping mechanisms which he or she will learn to apply in many different social interactions that may come his or her way. References Hayes, S.A., Hope, D.A., VanDyke, M.M., and Heimberg, R.G. (2007). Working Alliance for Clients with Social Anxiety Disorder: Relationship with Session Helpfulness and Within-Session Habituation, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 36(1), 34-42. Paris, J. (2006). Social Anxiety Disorder. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 51(2), 35S-41S. Rodebaugh, T.L. and Heimberg, G.T. (2005). Combined Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 19(4), 331-345. Stein, D.J. (2006). Evidence-based treatment for social anxiety disorder. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 10(1), 16-21. Zaider, T.I. and Heimberg, R.G. (2003). Non-pharmacologic treatments for social anxiety disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 108(417), 72-84.

Misguided Love in The Glass Menagerie Essay -- Glass Menagerie essays

Misguided Love in The Glass Menagerie The Glass Menagerie, written by playwright Tennessee Williams, is the story of a family torn apart by heartbreak from the past and tragedy from the present. Williams' parallels this play to his true life experience with his own family, which makes The Glass Menagerie an even more tragic version of what happens to a family when love is lost and abandonment is reality. Providing for a family can be an overwhelming responsibility, for there are many pitfalls along the way, some families are able to cope, some are not, and The Glass Menagerie gives us insight into what truly happens to a family when faced with abandonment. The story begins in The Wingfield apartment in the rear of a building, which can only be entered by a fire escape. A picture hangs on the living room wall of Mr. Wingfield, who took flight from his family when the children were very small. As Tom, the son recounts, "Father was a telephone man who fell in love with long distances; he gave up his job with the telephone company and skipped the fantastic out of town." There are three main characters throughout this play. Amanda, the mother, is unable to forgive herself for the poor judgement of character she made as a young lady ultimately leaving a lonely, bitter and fearful future for herself and her children. She so dearly loves her children. Tom is a man with dreams of a future but is stifled into a world of disgust and guilt by his overbearing mother. He is a poet at heart, stuck in a job at a shoe factory trying to make ends meet, bearing the responsibility of his younger sister, and all the while dreaming of a life of his own. Although Amanda is quick to let Tom know how much she dearly hates him working at t... ...f this gesture accidentally knocks over the figurine and it too breaks. Laura makes an attempt to recover herself, and for a fleeting moment all seems well, until Jim announces he has another woman in his life, and awkwardly excuses himself; leaving Laura forever silenced before the broken glass. These two moments in time that portray the essence of this story; the darkness and despair, the shattering of human life, and the failure to mend. The Glass Menagerie is a gripping story, one that will leave many who view it with the feeling that Williams' was actually writing about their own lives. The power to overcome the feeling of hopelessness, betrayal, abandonment, and difference is within us all, but not all of us can escape from our past. Works Cited: Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. University of North Carolina at Pembroke. October 31, 1997.

Introduction to sales promotions Essay

Today, sales promotions are a key feature of the retail trade. There are many ways in which a business can sell and a sales promotion is just one aspect of marketing goods or services. The specific product which I have decided to base this assignment on is ‘Coca-Cola’s’ 2- litre bottle of coke. I thought that it might be interesting to investigate the sales promotions of ‘Coca-Cola’ as they are a business which has provided many since they were first founded by John Pemberton till now. ‘Coca-Cola’ ‘Coca-Cola’ was invented on 8th May 1886 by John Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. John Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, came up with the name ‘Coca-Cola’ and designed the logo. The drink was first sold at Jacobs’s pharmacy. The fact of all this which I find most interesting, is the fact that during the first year, sales of ‘Coca-Cola’ averaged nine drinks a day, adding up to a total of i 50 for that year. Today, products of The Coca-Cola Company are consumed at the rate of more than one billion drinks per day in around 200 countries. The media is a powerful source of mainly advertising, which uses traditional methods of mass communication, e. g. newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. Being the very successful and most recognized brand that ‘Coca – Cola’ is, they can afford to promote their products by all means of media. I believe that the second most important method for ‘Coca – Cola’ to promote their products is on billboards. A vast majority of the population drive vehicles and will occasionally drive past billboards which are trying to advertise or promote a product. The sales promotion which I have chosen for my 2 – litre bottle of coke has been seen by me on billboards and TV. Television is by far, the most beneficial way to advertise or promote a product due to the large numbers which happily watch TV in the comfort of their own home, or perhaps somewhere else. The sales promotion: * Buy 2 bottles of coke and receive a free ‘Coca – Cola’, FIFA world cup glass; Is mainly seen being promoted on television as ‘Coca – Cola’ realise that if they want to find customers, television is the best possible way as we’ve already looked at. The media is a strong way of helping many businesses, such as ‘Coca -Cola’ to advertise a promotion. Once a customer sees what they can save, or in this case, gain, they will then be tempted to purchase that product. ‘Coca – Cola’ is the proud sponsor of the FIFA world cup, 2006 in Germany. When people see ‘Coca – Cola’ associating with the FIFA world cup, this will lure them further to increase the probability of them purchasing products. ‘Coca – Coca’ are frequently seen advertising promotions by all possible means of media but my chosen sales promotion for ‘Coca – Cola’ has only been seen by me on billboards and TV. When ‘Coca – Cola’ do advertise, they try to aim their products at a target audience, but who might that target audience be? Target audience To sustain a businesses successfulness, you need to be fairly smart and ‘Coca – Cola’ have proved more than that in the method they have decided to use to identify their target audience. Even tough it is stated that half the world’s population have at least tasted coke, the main target audience is said to have no real gender and is age ranged between 18 – 34. Even tough there is no real gender, the majority of people who do consume coke are said to be male. Men and boys aged between 14 – 34 are very likely to be watching the world cup and with ‘Coca – Cola’ being the sponsor and offering a free ‘Coca – Cola’, world cup glass, they just can’t say no. I presume that their main idea is to have their target audience picturing themselves watching the world cup and drinking coke out of the free glass before they actually purchase it. Deciding the Style This stage in the success of a sales promotion must link with the format of the promotion and be compatible with its aims. The business may offer a saving or a free item with purchase. This item could be linked with a specific target audience. The sales promotion; * Buy 2 bottles of coke and receive a free ‘Coca – Cola’, FIFA world cup glass; is targeted at men and boys aged roughly between 14-34. The reason for the gender is because men and boys are more likely than woman to be watching football. The colours and design of the sales promotion needs to correspond with the world cup yet it needs to do the same with the target audience. An informal event like a fun day will have informal materials and ‘jazzy’ notices in bright and attractive colours. This is because a fun day is aimed at younger children and this will be the more inviting approach in terms of attraction. The sales promotion which I am investigating has frequently been seen by myself on various occasions, billboards mostly. The colours are that of the flag of Germany, the host of the FIFA world cup. It is also combined with masculine and neutral colours for the seriousness and honour of the world cup. Men will take this event seriously and as ‘Coca-Cola’ knows this, they are one step ahead. The main point of all the media and format of the business is to sustain the high level of work and to overall, be consistent. ‘Coca-Cola’ are consistent and a key fact which thoroughly proves this is the fact that they are the most recognised brand in the world. Key messages The key message for a business, will depend upon what they wish there intended outcome to be of the promotion and who they wish to aim it at. ‘Coca-Cola’ as an industrial business with a promotion has a main purpose which is to sell more goods or to provide information about their products. This can either be done online or perhaps on their packaging. Key messages over the past many years have proven most affective through a slogan. ‘Coca-Cola’ change theirs to suit the packaging in relation to the offer or perhaps an event. This attracts more customers with the sense of a key message. An example could concern a sales clearance with big headings and bold lettering to point out the offer or the key message. The key message for the sales that I am investigating is that the world cup is on and that it’s a time for celebration. ‘Cola-Cola’ is now loved by almost everyone. It is drunk by almost every non-alcoholic drinker and is also drunk by people who consume alcohol as well. Key messages for ‘Coca-Cola’ have clearly worked and if you just take a look at their sales, you’ll see just how much they have worked. Consumer Law Consumer legislation should be a key issue to any one who owns a business and wishes to advertise or promote a product. All business must make sacrifices by selling products at a cheaper price or perhaps they can produce a sales promotion to catch the eye of the customer who may perhaps be interested. All these examples provide the intended consumers a thing called consumer law which gives them rights to that product or service which the business may be providing. The rights protect them from the business providing them with faulty goods or perhaps a service which does not meet their needs. They also, however, give rights to retailers from the consumer ‘throwing’ wrong accusations at them concerning any of their products or services. The buyer may complain that the price of a product is priced too high or perhaps they may wish to complain otherwise. If the consumer makes a false accusation, they can be penalized by means of consumer law. Consumer protection legislation One act which is an example of how ‘Coca – Cola’ put across their product is the; ‘Consumer Protection Act 1987. ‘ This act relates to mainly price and safety. Under this act it is an offence for ‘Coca – Cola’ to * Mislead customers as to the price of any item – The average price for a 2-litre bottle of coke costs zero to nothing to produce but is sold for a maximum of i 1. 50. Customers do not look at the issue like this. Even if they do, they bear in mind that the business needs to make money and see i 1. 50 as a reasonable price. They always have remained with this price and it will be very rare that Coca – Cola are misleading their customers where prices are concerned. * Mislead consumers over sale prices and exaggerate price reductions – Coca – Cola are not the type of business which you will see exaggerating a price reduction on any of their products. If they were to have a price reduction, they would have one without any mislead false claims concerning the prices.

An Overview of Third-Wave Feminism

What historians refer to as first-wave feminism arguably began in the late 18th century with the publication of Mary Wollstonecrafts Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), and ended with the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protected a womans right to vote. First-wave feminism was concerned primarily with establishing, as a point of policy, that women are human beings and should not be treated like property. The Second Wave The second wave of feminism emerged in the wake of World War II, during which many women entered the workforce, and would have arguably ended with the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), had it been ratified. The central focus of the second wave was on total gender equality —  women as a group having the same social, political, legal, and economic rights that men have. Rebecca Walker and the Origins of Third-Wave Feminism Rebecca Walker, a 23-year-old, bisexual African-American woman born in Jackson, Mississippi, coined the term third-wave feminism in a 1992 essay. Walker is in many ways a living symbol of the way that second-wave feminism has historically failed to incorporate the voices of many young women, non-heterosexual women, and women of color. Women of Color Both first-wave and second-wave feminism represented movements that existed alongside, and at times in tension with, civil rights movements for people of color — a slight majority of whom happen to be women. But the struggle always seemed to be for the rights of white women, as represented by the womens liberation movement, and black men, as represented by the civil rights movement. Both movements, at times, could have been legitimately accused of relegating women of color to asterisk status. Lesbians, Bisexual Women, and Transgender Women For many second-wave feminists, non-heterosexual women were seen as an embarrassment to the movement. The great feminist activist Betty Friedan, for example, coined the term lavender menace in 1969 to refer to what she considered the harmful perception that feminists are lesbians. She later apologized for the remark, but it accurately reflected the insecurities of a movement that was still very heteronormative in many ways. Low-Income Women First- and second-wave feminism also tended to emphasize the rights and opportunities of middle-class women over poor and working-class women. The debate over abortion rights, for example, centers on laws that affect a womans right to choose an abortion — but economic circumstances, which generally play a more significant role in such decisions today, are not necessarily taken into account. If a woman has the legal right to terminate her pregnancy, but chooses to exercise that right because she cant afford to carry a pregnancy to term, is this really a scenario that protects reproductive rights? Women in the Developing World First- and second-wave feminism, as movements, were largely confined to industrialized nations. But third-wave feminism takes a global perspective — not by merely attempting to colonize developing nations with Western practices, but by empowering women to actualize change, to gain power and equality, within their own cultures and their own communities and with their own voices. A Generational Movement Some second-wave feminist activists have questioned the need for a third wave. Others, both inside and outside of the movement, disagree with respect to what the third wave represents. Even the general definition  provided above may not accurately describe the objectives of all third-wave feminists.But its important to realize that third-wave feminism is a generational term — it refers to how the feminist struggle manifests itself in the world today. Just as second-wave feminism represented the diverse and sometimes competing for interests of feminists who struggled together under the banner of womens liberation, third-wave feminism represents a generation that has begun with the achievements of the second wave. We can only hope that the third wave will be so successful as to necessitate the fourth wave — and we can only imagine what that fourth wave might look like.