Recovery from social phobia in the community and its predictors: data from a longitudinal epidemiological study

The present longitudinal study aimed to determine rate of natural recovery from DSM-IV social phobia in the community and to examine predictors of recovery. Data were derived from the Dresden Predictor Study of a representative sample of 1396 young German women. The participants completed a diagnostic interview and self-report questionnaires at two survey points approximately 1.5 years apart. Of the 91 women with social phobia at baseline 64% were at least partially recovered and 36% showed full recovery from social phobia at follow-up, defined as absence of any of the DSM-IV criteria of social phobia. Predictors of recovery from social phobia were: being employed, no lifetime depression, fewer than three lifetime psychiatric disorders, less psychopathology, less anxiety sensitivity, fewer daily hassles, and better mental health. These results show that rates of recovery from social phobia are relatively high in community and that less stress and internal psychological problems play an important role in recovery from social phobia.