Effect of Dhairya Chikitsa in the Management of Social Anxiety (Chittodvega): A Clinical Study

Background: Chittodvega, a Manasika Vikara described in the Ayurvedic classics as Anavastita Chetasa, arises from vitiation of Rajas and Tamas with Vata prakopa and corresponds closely to Social Anxiety Disorder, a common but under-recognised condition marked by fear of scrutiny and social avoidance. Ayurveda manages such Manasa Vikaras chiefly through Satwavajaya Chikitsa, within which Dhairya restores Satva Bala and checks the dominance of Rajas and Tamas. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Dhairya Chikitsa in the management of social anxiety (Chittodvega) and to study the applied dimension of Satwavajaya Chikitsa. Materials and Methods: A non-randomised, single-group clinical study was conducted on thirty participants aged 16 to 25 years satisfying the diagnostic criteria for the performance type of Social Anxiety Disorder at Alva's Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital, Moodubidire. Dhairya Chikitsa, operationalised through gradual modeling, participant modeling with contact desensitization, social skills training and staged performance exposure, was administered for thirty minutes once weekly over thirty days. Outcomes were assessed on the Kutcher Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder Scale for Adolescents on days 1, 15 and 30 and analysed by repeated measures analysis of variance or Friedman's test with post-hoc comparison. Results: All four subscales showed a highly significant decline (p<0.001). The total score fell from 65.73 ± 16.19 at baseline to 39.33 ± 14.58 on day 30, a reduction of 40.16 per cent. Conclusion: Dhairya Chikitsa relieves the fear, avoidance, affective and somatic dimensions of Chittodvega and offers a safe, economical and non-pharmacological option in the management of social anxiety.