Social anxiety disorder: Comorbidity and its implications

Social anxiety disorder is an extremely common and potentially disabling ps ychiatric disorder. Generalized social anxiety disorder, a subtype of the d isorder, is believed to be the most common and most severe form. It is also the form that is most often associated with other psychiatric disorders. U nless the clinician has a high index of suspicion, social anxiety disorder may remain undetected. The clinical and treatment implications of the most common psychiatric comorbidities associated with social anxiety disorder ar e discussed in this article, with a focus on major depression, panic disord er, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse/dependence. Other psyc hiatric disorders and some medical conditions commonly associated with soci al anxiety disorder are briefly mentioned. Finally, a differential diagnosi s of social anxiety disorder is described. Individuals who present for trea tment of other anxiety disorders, mood disorders, or alcohol/substance abus e disorders should be considered at risk for current but undetected social anxiety disorder.