The assessment and treatment of performance anxiety in musicians. 143rd Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (1990, New York, New York)

Author(s): Agras, W. Stewart

Journal/Book: American Journal of Psychiatry. 1991; 148: 598-605.

Abstract: 94 adults with a performance anxiety problem were recruited by mass media announcements and were seen in a university-based outpatient psychiatric clinic. Assessments were questionnaires for all 94 Ss, diagnostic interview of 50 Ss, and laboratory performance of 34 Ss. Treatment conditions were 6 wks of buspirone, 6 wks of placebo, a five-session group cognitive-behavior therapy program (CBTP) with buspirone, or the CBTP with placebo. All Ss fulfilled criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III--Revised (DSM-III--R) social phobia. Of the 15 full-time professional musicians, 10 had tried propranolol and 3 had stopped performing. Most Ss had substantial anxiety and heart rate increases during lab speech and musical performances. CBTP resulted in significant reductions in subjective anxiety, improved quality of musical performance, and improved performance confidence.

Note: assessment & cognitive behavior therapy with vs without buspirone; musicians with performance anxiety

Keyword(s): Cognitive therapy; buspirone ; drug therapy; anxiety neurosis; musicians ; psychodiagnosis ; adulthood

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