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social phobia
Facts (12)
Sources
Diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders set out in DSM-IV and ICD ... ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 6 facts
claimSocial phobia is characterized by a marked and persistent fear of social or performance situations where an individual is exposed to unfamiliar people or potential scrutiny by others, with the fear that they will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that are humiliating or embarrassing.
referenceThe DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for social phobia include: (A) marked fear of being the focus of attention or fear of behaving in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating, or marked avoidance of such situations; (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 are endured with intense anxiety or distress; (E) the avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational or academic functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia; (F) in individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6 months; (G) the fear or avoidance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder.
claimPanic attacks are excluded from diagnosis if they are better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as social phobia, specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or separation anxiety disorder.
claimIn children, a diagnosis of social phobia requires evidence of the capacity for age-appropriate social relationships with familiar people, and the anxiety must occur in peer settings rather than just during interactions with adults.
referenceThe ICD diagnostic criteria for social phobia include: (A) marked fear of being the focus of attention or fear of behaving in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating, or marked avoidance of such situations; (B) at least two symptoms of anxiety in the feared situation at some time since the onset of the disorder, plus symptoms of blushing, fear of vomiting, or urgency/fear of micturition or defaecation; (C) significant emotional distress caused by the symptoms or by the avoidance; (D) recognition that the symptoms or the avoidance are excessive or unreasonable; (E) symptoms are restricted to, or predominate in, the feared situation or when thinking about it; (F) criteria A and B are not caused by delusions, hallucinations, or other symptoms of disorders such as organic mental disorders, schizophrenia, affective disorders, or OCD, and are not secondary to cultural beliefs.
claimIn the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, the anxiety or worry must not be about having a panic attack (as in panic disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in social phobia), being contaminated (as in obsessive–compulsive disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in separation anxiety disorder), gaining weight (as in anorexia nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in somatization disorder), or having a serious illness (as in hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry must not occur exclusively during post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anxiety Disorders DSM - 445 Dolley Madison Road crossroadspsychiatric.com 2 facts
referenceThe DSM-IV-TR defines the diagnostic criteria for Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder, Code 300.23) as 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.
referenceAgoraphobia involves the avoidance of specific situations, enduring them with marked distress, or requiring the presence of a companion, and the condition is not better accounted for by other mental disorders such as Social Phobia, Specific Phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or Separation Anxiety Disorder.
Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders link.springer.com Dec 19, 2022 1 fact
measurementAmong the classifications of anxiety disorders, specific phobia (10.3%), panic disorders (6%), social phobia (2.7%), and generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) (2.2%) are the most common.
CBT for Anxiety: Evidence-Based Techniques for Lasting Relief revivespokane.com Oct 22, 2025 1 fact
claimCognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is effective for treating social phobia (social anxiety disorder), panic disorder, and specific phobias.
Effective Anxiety Management: Evidence-Based Approaches reachlink.com Nov 29, 2025 1 fact
claimSocial anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an unrealistic fear of being rejected, judged, or humiliated in social situations, which can make otherwise pleasant scenarios feel extremely stressful.
Diagnosis and Management of Generalized Anxiety Disorder ... - AAFP aafp.org May 1, 2015 1 fact
claimPatients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or Panic Disorder (PD) frequently meet criteria for other psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and social phobia.