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Social phobia: a comparison of specific and generalized subtypes and avoidant personality disorder
S M Turner1, D C Beidel, R M Townsley
1Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213.
Abstract:
The validity of the social phobia subtype distinction was examined in a large sample of carefully diagnosed social phobics (N = 89). Generalized and specific subtypes were diagnosed reliably, and the generalized subtype showed a consistent pattern of greater symptom severity than did the specific subtype. In addition, generalized social phobics with and without avoidant personality disorder were compared, and a difference was found for only 1 of 4 parameters. The results are discussed in terms of the validity of subtyping in social phobia and the diagnostic boundary between social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.