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Cited by 181Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL OF SOCIAL ANXIETY AND SUBSTANCE USE: Review: Biopsychosocial Model of SAD-SUD Comorbidity

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Buckner, Julia D., Heimberg, Richard G., Ecker, Anthony H., Vinci, Christine·2013·Depression and Anxiety
DOI 10.1002/da.22032
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Abstract

Emerging prospective work suggests that individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) may be at particular risk for developing substance use disorders (SUD). Yet, little is known about why this may be so. Most research has utilized existing theories of substance use (e.g. tension reduction-based theories) to understand SAD-SUD relations. However, these theories do not address why individuals with social anxiety, in particular, experience such high rates of substance-related problems. A possible explanation may lie in the nature of social anxiety itself, which is characterized not only by chronically elevated negative affective states, but by low positive affect, fear of scrutiny, and social avoidance. These aspects of social anxiety may work in concert to place these especially vulnerable individuals at risk for SUD. The current paper presents a biopsychosocial model of SAD-SUD comorbidity that focuses on several specific facets of social anxiety that may be especially related to SUD risk. The utility of this model is evaluated via a review of the literature on the relations between SAD and substance-related behaviors.

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  • Several anxiety disorders are associated with cannabis use and cannabis use disorder.

    “a variety of anxiety disorders (e.g., social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic) are related to cannabis use and CUD (e.g., Buckner, Heimberg, Ecker, & Vinci, 2013; Marmorstein, White, Loeber, & Stouthamer-Loeber, 2010; Zvolensky et al., 2006)”

    From Integrated cognitive behavioral therapy for comorbid cannabis use and anxiety disorders: A pilot randomized controlled trial (2019) · cites this paper as Buckner, Heimberg, Ecker, & Vinci, 2013

    The Relations Between Social Anxiety and Substance-Related Problems section reports an association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and cannabis dependence and cannabis-related problems. The Uniqueness/Nonspuriousness section notes that panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder occur among people with cannabis dependence, but says neither remained related to dependence in multivariate analysis. The paper therefore does not support the claim as broadly for the other named disorders, particularly for cannabis use. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Buckner, J. D., Heimberg, R. G., Ecker, A. H., & Vinci, C.
Affiliations
  • Louisiana State University (US)
  • Temple University (US)
Corresponding author
Heimberg, Richard G.
ORCID
Venue
Depression and Anxiety
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-12-13
Volume
30
Issue
3
Pages
276-284
ISSN
1091-4269 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1002/da.22032
OpenAlex
W1904248552
Cited by
181
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 3
FWCI
1.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 992 d)
Locations
  • Depression and Anxiety (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Civil War Book Review (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
social anxiety disorder, substance use disorders, comorbidities, biopsychosocial model, negative affect, positive affect, social avoidance, substance use risk
MeSH terms
Humans, Phobic Disorders, Comorbidity, Substance-Related Disorders

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