Shy parent, shy child ? : delineating psychophysiological endophenotypes of social anxiety disorder

Abstract

The goal of this dissertation was to delineate

psychophysiological endophenotypes of social anxiety disorder. We conducted a

unique two-generation family study, including patients with social anxiety

disorder, their partner and children, and their siblings with partner and children. This dissertation focused on EEG and heart rate measures during resting state, a social performance task and a social judgment paradigm. In the social performance task, participants watched and evaluated a speech of a female peer and then gave a speech in front of a video camera themselves. In the social judgment paradigm, participants received social acceptance or rejection feedback, after indicating their expectations about the upcoming feedback. This dissertation focused on three criteria for endophenotypes: association with SAD, co-segregation with SAD within families, and heritability. Delta-beta correlation during anticipation of a stressful social situation, and N1 and P3 amplitude in the social judgment paradigm are candidate endophenotypes of SAD.