What Is Socialized Anxiety Disorder?

Anywhere from three to 13 percent of the adult population experience socialized anxiety disorder, or social phobia, over the course of their lifetime. Even though the symptoms of social phobia can be unrelenting and pervasive, most individuals with the disorder benefit from psychotherapy and other available treatments.

Definition

• Socialized or social anxiety disorder, clinically referred to as social phobia, is a specific type of anxiety disorder. Individuals with social phobia experience acute, unrelenting fear of social situations, including fear of meeting unfamiliar people and of being evaluated by others.

Types

• Social phobia may present itself as either generalized or specific. When generalized, social phobia evokes anxiety regarding most social situations. When specific, social phobia will only cause anxiety in specific social situations, such as speaking or eating in public.

Factors

• The onset of social phobia may occur following an adverse social experience or it may develop over time. Studies have shown that social phobia usually develops by mid-adolescence and that it occurs to a greater extent among first-degree biological relatives.

Treatment

• One of the most effective forms of treatment for social phobia is that of exposure treatment, which uses systematic desensitization to help diminish fears. Cognitive therapy and medications, such as beta blockers and antidepressants, can also provide relief from symptoms.

Prognosis

• Social phobia can be chronic without treatment. However, effective therapy can significantly impact the progression of the disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches relaxation techniques and employs exposure treatment, has proven highly successful in treating social phobia.