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Social phobia: issues in assessment and management
K M Connor1, J R Davidson, S Sutherland
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Epilepsia
|October 26, 1999
Summary
Social phobia, once considered rare, is a widespread disorder impacting social and occupational life. Effective treatments, including psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions, are available for this persistent condition.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Social phobia, initially underestimated, is now recognized as a prevalent and debilitating disorder.
- Symptoms often emerge in adolescence, potentially leading to lifelong social and occupational impairment if untreated.
- It is frequently associated with co-occurring conditions like depression and substance abuse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine differential diagnosis considerations for social phobia.
- To review treatment goals for social phobia.
- To summarize evidence for the efficacy of pharmacologic treatments for social phobia.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and clinical trial data.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and symptom presentation.
- Evaluation of treatment outcomes for psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions.
Main Results:
- Social phobia is a persistent condition with significant morbidity and disability.
- Genetic and environmental factors likely contribute to its development.
- Controlled trials demonstrate that social phobia is treatable with psychosocial and pharmacologic approaches.
Conclusions:
- Social phobia requires greater clinical attention due to its prevalence and impact.
- Accurate diagnosis and timely intervention are crucial for managing social phobia.
- Pharmacologic treatments show promising effectiveness in managing social phobia symptoms.