Social phobia and potential childhood risk factors in a community sample

Background. This study examined the relationship between potential childhoo d risk factors and social phobia in an epidemiological sample. Identifying risk factors such as childhood adversities can often uncover important clue s as to the aetiology of a disorder. This information also enables health c are providers to predict which individuals are most likely to develop the d isorder. Methods. Data came from the Mental Health Supplement to the Ontario Health Survey of a survey of 8116 Canadian respondents, aged 15-64. Social phobia was diagnosed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) . Childhood risk factors were assessed by a series of standardized question s. Results. A positive relationship was observed between social phobia and lac k of close relationship with an adult, not being first born tin males only) , marital conflict in the family of origin, parental history of mental diso rder, moving more than three times as a child, juvenile justice and child w elfare involvement, running away from home, childhood physical and sexual a buse, failing a grade, requirement of special education before age 9 and dr opping out of high school. Many of these variables remained significant aft er controlling for phobias, major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse. Th e data also suggest that some childhood risk factors may interact with gend er to influence the development of social phobia. Conclusions. Although an association was detected between social phobia and childhood risk factors, naturalistic prospective studies are needed to cla rify the aetiological importance of these and other potential risk factors for the disorder.