THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SOCIAL PHOBIA - FINDINGS FROM THE DUKE EPIDEMIOLOGIC CATCHMENT-AREA STUDY

Social phobia was studied in a North Carolina community, using DSM-III criteria. Two kinds of comparison were made: social phobia v. non-soc ial phobia, and comorbid social phobia v. non-comorbid social phobia. Six-month and lifetime prevalence rates were 2.7 and 3.8% respectively . Social phobia had an early onset, lasted a long time and rarely reco vered. Predictors of good outcome recovery in a logistic regression an alysis were onset of phobia after age 11, absence of psychiatric comor bidity and greater education. The disorder was often missed in medical consultation. Increased rates of psychiatric comorbidity existed, esp ecially for other anxiety disorders and for schizophrenia/schizophreni form disorder. There was increased risk of neurological disorder. Soci al phobia was also associated with an increased rate of suicide attemp ts, antisocial behaviour and impaired school performance during adoles cence, impaired medical health, increased health-seeking behaviour, po or employment performance, reduced social interaction and impaired soc ial support. Comorbidity accounted for some, but not all observed diff erences.