Social Phobia Overview

What is Social Phobia?

Social phobia (SP), also known as social anxiety disorder, is a form of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, persistent fear of social or performance situations that may result in scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way, or show anxiety symptoms, that will be humiliating or embarrassing.

What is the rank of social phobia among mental diseases?

Believe it or not; social phobia ranks as the third important disease among people who are suffering mental health problems.

How does social phobia impact the lives?

For people with social phobia, the impact on their lives can be significant. Because the patient with social phobia fears he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing, the patient may fear and avoid:

• Talking to unfamiliar people
• Talking to people in authority
• Social gatherings
• Social phobiaeaking in public
• Being the center of attention

What is the key characteristic of social phobia?

The key characteristic of social phobia is a marked or persistent fear of social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others and in which embarrassment may occur. However, patients with social phobia may vary in symptom presentation, adding to the challenge of diagnosis.

What is the clinical course of social phobia?

The onset of social phobia is typically in a person's mid-teens; the mean age of onset is between 14 and 16 years. social phobia may occur after a childhood history of social inhibition or shyness.

It is a chronic condition, developing slowly over a period of months to years. A history of shyness and social apprehension is common in patients with social phobia.

The chronic nature of social phobia may result in persistent functional impairment and disability in patients with social anxiety. When compared to matched controls, individuals with social phobia are:

• less likely to marry
• more likely to divorce
• more likely to be unemployed
• more likely to fall in the lower half of the population in terms of socioeconomic achievement
• have less than 11 years’ education
• live with parents

Individuals with social phobia generally experience lifelong symptoms, although the condition may change in severity or even remit during adulthood. Because it is common for patients with social phobia to enter treatment later in life, patients often report suffering from severe symptoms for many years before seeking treatment.

Although life stressors and demands may affect the severity and frequency of symptoms and impairment, social phobia is rarely the reason for admission to psychiatric inpatient settings.

What is the prevalence of social phobia?

Recent research has shown that social phobia is highly prevalent, and often associated with comorbid mental and substance-related conditions. It is a chronic disorder, and can be disabling to those who have it. 

The National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), a collaborative epidemiologic investigation conducted in the US from 1990 to 1992, is based on household survey data from over 8000 respondents. The survey found that social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder, with a lifetime prevalence of over 13%. It is the third most common psychiatric disorder, following major depressive disorder, which has a lifetime prevalence of about 17%, and alcohol dependence, at about 14%