A cognitive model of social phobia describes processes that maintain anxiety in these patients.
Self-focused attention causes inadequate processing of social interactions. Safety behaviours prevent the challenging of irrational thoughts. Interoceptive information is used to construct a negative impression of oneself as a social object. Anticipation anxiety and post-factum rumination complete the picture.
Research underpinning the model and implications for cognitive-behavioural treatment of social phobia are discussed.