DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Psychiatric Condition

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

MODERATE

A chronic mental health condition characterized by intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. Goes beyond ordinary shyness. Affects approximately 7% of adults. Often begins in childhood or adolescence. Can severely impact social and occupational functioning.

Global Affected

300.0M

Countries

111

Symptoms

Intense fear of social situations
Worry about embarrassment
Avoidance of social interactions
Physical symptoms (blushing, sweating)
Racing heart in social settings
Nausea
Difficulty speaking
Mind going blank
Fear of public speaking
Isolation

Treatment Options

Cognitive behavioral therapy
Exposure therapy
SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine)
SNRIs (venlafaxine)
Beta-blockers (propranolol)
MAOIs (refractory cases)
Group therapy
Social skills training

Risk Factors

1Family history
2Childhood shyness
3Overprotective/controlling parents
4Negative social experiences
5Bullying
6Genetic factors
7Temperament

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1Clinical interview (DSM-5)
  • 2Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
  • 3Social Phobia Inventory
  • 4Behavioral assessment
  • 5Rule out avoidant personality disorder

Prognosis

Good with treatment; CBT produces lasting benefits in 60-80%. Medications effective but relapse common after discontinuation. Often chronic without treatment. Early intervention in adolescence improves outcomes. Many never seek treatment due to avoidance.

Prevention

  • No proven primary prevention
  • Early intervention
  • Social skills training
  • Parent training
  • School-based prevention programs
  • Address bullying

Research Status

CBT with exposure is gold standard treatment. SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) and SNRIs (venlafaxine) effective. MAOIs (phenelzine) for refractory cases. Beta-blockers for performance anxiety. Group CBT beneficial. Novel: D-cycloserine augmentation, attention bias modification, virtual reality exposure. Combination therapy superior.

Affected Countries

United StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceItalySpainJapanChinaIndiaBrazilRussiaSwedenNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkNorwayFinlandPolandCzech RepublicHungaryRomaniaBulgariaCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaSingaporeTaiwanHong KongMalaysiaThailandVietnamIndonesiaPhilippinesSouth AfricaNigeriaEgyptTurkeyIranSaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitOmanJordanLebanonSyriaYemenIraqAfghanistanPakistanBangladeshLKNPMMKHLAMNKazakhstanUzbekistanTMKGTJAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMEMKSerbiaXKMexicoArgentinaChileColombiaPeruVenezuelaEcuadorUYPYBOCRPAGuatemalaHNSVNIBZJMHaitiDominican RepublicCuba

Sources

  • https://www.hematology.org/education/patients
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
  • https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.