Social Anxiety Disorder
Monday, 14 January 2019 14:02
Diagnosis (DSM-5):
- Fear of social interactions, anxiety around receiving negative judgments
or giving offence to others.
- Social situations are avoided, or experienced with intense fear and
anxiety.
- Avoidance, fear or anxiety lasts for 6 or more months and causes
significant distress and difficulty in performing social or occupational
difficulties.
- Anxiety cannot be explained by effects of other mental or medical
disorders, drug abuse or medications.
Clinical features
Fear of negative evaluation:
- Humiliation.
- Shame.
- Loss of social standing or attractiveness to others.
- Outright criticism.
- Rejection.
Anxious arousal:
- Palpitations.
- Tremor.
- Sweating.
- Muscle tension.
- Diarrhoea.
- Blushing.
- Confusion
- ^different for each individual^.
Avoidance, inhibition and awareness:
- High degree of avoidance of social situations (interpersonal and
performance situation).
- Formal speaking, parties, initiating and maintaining conversations,
eating or drinking in public.
- Safety behaviours used.
Marked distress and interference:
- Crucial distinguishing feature. Common amongst the general population.
Monday, 14 January 2019 14:02
Diagnosis (DSM-5):
- Fear of social interactions, anxiety around receiving negative judgments
or giving offence to others.
- Social situations are avoided, or experienced with intense fear and
anxiety.
- Avoidance, fear or anxiety lasts for 6 or more months and causes
significant distress and difficulty in performing social or occupational
difficulties.
- Anxiety cannot be explained by effects of other mental or medical
disorders, drug abuse or medications.
Clinical features
Fear of negative evaluation:
- Humiliation.
- Shame.
- Loss of social standing or attractiveness to others.
- Outright criticism.
- Rejection.
Anxious arousal:
- Palpitations.
- Tremor.
- Sweating.
- Muscle tension.
- Diarrhoea.
- Blushing.
- Confusion
- ^different for each individual^.
Avoidance, inhibition and awareness:
- High degree of avoidance of social situations (interpersonal and
performance situation).
- Formal speaking, parties, initiating and maintaining conversations,
eating or drinking in public.
- Safety behaviours used.
Marked distress and interference:
- Crucial distinguishing feature. Common amongst the general population.
