Who Is Affected by Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder
usually emerges
during childhood or early adolescence and rarely after age 25.1 It is a common condition that affects around 13% of the
general population, with about one-third of those having a single fear of
public speaking.2
Women are more likely to
develop social anxiety disorder than men. The
condition may run in families, although it is unclear whether this is due to a
genetic disorder or to learned behavior. More than half of those with social
anxiety disorder will become disabled by intense fear of and anxiety over
numerous social situations.
Depression commonly occurs with social
anxiety disorder, which makes it harder to treat. Some people may use alcohol or drugs to relieve symptoms of social anxiety disorder. This may possibly lead to
substance abuse problems.
Citations
-
Zal HM (2003). Social phobia: Diagnostic issues.
Psychiatric Times, 20(5): 75–77.
-
Hollander E, Simeon D (2008). Social phobia
(Social anxiety disorder). In RE Hales et al., eds., American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry, 5th ed., pp.
536–546. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric
Publishing.
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
|
Last Revised
|
July 11, 2011 |
Last Revised:
July 11, 2011
Zal HM (2003). Social phobia: Diagnostic issues.
Psychiatric Times, 20(5): 75–77.
Hollander E, Simeon D (2008). Social phobia
(Social anxiety disorder). In RE Hales et al., eds., American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry, 5th ed., pp.
536–546. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric
Publishing.
