Clinical features and co-morbidity of social phobics in Turkey

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical features and frequency and importance of related co-morbid disorders of social phobia in a clinic al sample. Eighty-seven patients meeting DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for social phobia were studied. All patients were assessed by using a semi-stru ctured socio-demographic form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-II I-R, Manual for the Structured Clinical interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depre ssion and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety. Sixty-eight (78.2%) of the gro up were male, 19 (21.8%) were female. The ages varied between 16-58 years, with a mean of 26.2 years (SD = 8.5). Fifty-one point seven percent of the subjects were assessed as having a co-morbid axis I disorder, of which 12.6 % consisted of panic disorder and 10.3% agoraphobia. An additional axis II disorder had been found in 67.8% of the subjects, and 54.0% of them had bee n diagnosed as having avoidant personality disorder. The frequency of co-mo rbid disorders in our social phobic sample is lower than most of the studie s in the literature. The interface between social phobia and avoidant perso nality disorder needs to be studied and discussed further. (C) 2001 Edition s scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.