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- signs and symptoms
- conditions and disorders
- mental health assessment
- psychotherapy
- psychotropics
Mind & Being Links
Social Phobia
Social phobia is a "marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations with exposure to unfamiliar people or scrutiny of others".
It is the most common anxiety disorder of adults, with about 13%. Its onset is usually in med adolesence, with a prevalence of 2-8%.
Social phobia can lead to significant co-morbidities, including depresison, other anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, and eating disorders.
Symptoms
- fear of unfamiliar people or situations
- person recognizes situation is unreasonable or excessive
Commonly feared situations include:
- public speaking
- eating, drinking, or writing in front of others
- using public restrooms
- speaking on the telephone and at social gatherings
Avoidance, anticipation, and distress significantly interferes with social/occupational/academic functioning.
Somatic complaints can include:
- insomnia or fatigue
- palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath
- dizziness, trembling hands
- sweating, blushing
- GI complaints
Diagnosis
Social phobia is underrecognized and treated by family doctors.
- can have generalized or performance type
- must interfere with daily function
- present for more than 6 months
What Causes Social Phobia?
- learning
Treatments
CBT can be very helpful.
Exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring, and social skills training to decrease anxiety and avoidance.
Medications
MAOIs, anxiolytics, and SSRIs can be used. SSRIs are becoming the drug of choice due to effectiveness and lack of side effects.