Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense and persistent fear of social situations in which the person may be observed, evaluated, or judged. It goes beyond shyness: it involves significant avoidance, clinically relevant suffering, and impairment in functioning (work, relationships, studies). It affects approximately 7-13% of the population at some point in life.
Concept origin
Liebowitz MR. (1987). Social phobia. Modern Problems of Pharmacopsychiatry, 22, 141-173. doi:10.1159/000414022 · American Psychiatric Association. (2013). DSM-5. American Psychiatric Publishing.
How it manifests
- ▸ Intense fear of public speaking, meetings, or social events
- ▸ Avoidance of situations where one might be observed
- ▸ Physical symptoms (sweating, tachycardia, tremor) in social contexts
- ▸ Anxious anticipation days before a social event
Therapeutic approach
First-line treatment combines CBT with gradual exposure to feared situations (exposure hierarchy). SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the first-line pharmacological treatment. Schema therapy can complement for working on core beliefs.
Related concepts
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