Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
05:03
Social Threat-Safety Test Uncovers Psychosocial Stress-Related Phenotypes
Published on: December 15, 2023
Social phobia with sudden onset--post-panic social phobia?
Ann Suhl Kristensen1, Erik Lykke Mortensen, Ole Mors
1Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark. ask@psykiatri.aaa.dk
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|August 31, 2007
Summary
Social phobia (SP) developing after a panic attack (sudden onset) shares characteristics with comorbid SP and panic disorder (PD). This suggests a distinct subtype of social phobia may exist.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Anxiety Disorders
Background:
- Significant overlap exists between social phobia (SP) and panic disorder (PD).
- A potential explanation for this overlap is the development of SP following a panic attack in a social situation, termed post-panic SP.
- Cases of post-panic SP are characterized by a sudden onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if patients with sudden-onset SP are more similar to patients with comorbid SP and PD than to those with non-sudden onset SP.
- To compare age of onset, extraversion, and anxiety symptoms across these groups.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 182 patients with a lifetime diagnosis of PD and/or SP.
- Classification of SP patients into sudden-onset and non-sudden onset groups.
- Comparison of demographic and clinical variables between groups.
Main Results:
- Patients with sudden-onset SP differed from those with non-sudden onset SP in age of onset and extraversion, as hypothesized.
- No significant difference in anxiety symptoms was found between sudden-onset SP and non-sudden onset SP.
- Sudden-onset SP patients showed similarities to patients with comorbid SP and PD.
Conclusions:
- Sudden-onset social phobia appears distinct from non-sudden onset SP.
- Findings support the concept of post-panic social phobia as a potentially separate entity.
- Further research into the etiology and clinical presentation of post-panic SP is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
01:27Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
01:09Preparedness and Phobias
Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...