Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | Psychiatry | Behavioral Health

Social phobia

Definition

Social phobia is a persistent and irrational fear of situations that may involve scrutiny or judgment by others, such as parties and other social events.

Alternative Names

Phobia - social

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Social phobias are characterized by fear and avoidance of situations in which a person may be subject to the scrutiny of others. It may begin in adolescence and may be associated with overprotective parents or limited social opportunity. Males and females are affected equally with this disorder.

People with social phobia are at high risk for alcohol or other drug dependence, because they may come to rely on drink or drugs to relax in social situations.

Symptoms

Social phobia is different from shyness. Shy people are able to participate in social functions, but people with social phobia are constrained by their condition to the point that it affects their ability to function in work and relationships.

Some of the most common fears of people with social phobia include:

• Speaking in public
• Meeting new people
• Eating, drinking, and writing in public
• Using public restrooms
• Attending parties and other social occasions

Signs and tests

• Rapid heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• History of phobia
• Description of behavior from family, friends, and affected person

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to help the person function effectively. The success of the treatment usually depends on the severity of the phobia.

Systematic desensitization is a technique used to treat phobias. The person is asked to relax, then imagine the components of the phobia, working from the least fearful to the most fearful. Graded real-life exposure has also been used with success to help people overcome their fears.

Social skills training may involve social contact in a group therapy situation to practice social skills. Role playing and modeling are techniques used to help the person gain comfort in relating to others in a social situation.

Anti-anxiety and anti-depressive medications are sometimes used to help relieve the symptoms associated with phobias.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outcome is generally good with treatment, and antidepressant medications have been shown to be very effective.

Complications

• Alcohol use to combat anxiety
• Alcohol or other drug dependence
• Loneliness and social isolation

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider or mental health professional if fear is affecting your work and relationships with others.

Prevention

Taking measures to improve your self esteem can be helpful. Social skills training may be helpful.

Review Date:11/15/2006
Reviewed By:Paul Ballas, D.O., Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.