Social Phobia

Social Phobia:  Marked and

Diagnostic Criteria for Social Phobia

persistent fear of embarrassment in social or performance situations, which is recognized as being excessive, and which interferes with the person’s function. 1.   Prevalence: 2-5%; 50% higher in women than men 2.   Onset is in adolescence, often in a shy child 3.   The course is typically lifelong and continuous 4.   Etiology:  The disorder is more common among 1st degree

A.  A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible 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.  B.  Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes anxiety, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed panic attack.  C.  The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable.  D.  The feared social or performance situations are avoided, or else endured with intense anxiety or distress. E.  The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person's normal routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships with others, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.

      relatives, and is associated with high autonomic arousal