SOCIAL PHOBIA - ANXIETY DISORDER COMORBIDITY

Research findings indicate significant comorbidity rates among the anx iety disorders, both between the various anxiety conditions and with o ther psychiatric and medical disorders. Although some other anxiety di sorders have been widely investigated, social phobia was relatively un studied before 1985. The authors review relevant epidemiological and c linical studies on comorbidity among the anxiety disorders, as well as on the relationship of social phobia with other anxiety disorders. Th ey suggest that social phobia is a distinct diagnostic category and co nclude that until a common methodological framework is established for obtaining reliable data, controlled comorbidity studies will not be f ully beneficial.