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The epidemiology of social phobia: findings from the Duke Epidemiological Catchment Area Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

J. R. T. Davidson ,
D. L. Hughes ,
L. K. George  and
D. G. Blazer
J. R. T. Davidson*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
D. L. Hughes
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
L. K. George
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
D. G. Blazer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Jonathon R. T. Davidson, Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
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Synopsis

Social phobia was studied in a North Carolina community, using DSM-III criteria. Two kinds of comparison were made: social phobia v. non-social phobia, and comorbid social phobia v. non-comorbid social phobia. Six-month and lifetime prevalence rates were 2·7 and 3·8% respectively. Social phobia had an early onset, lasted a long time and rarely recovered. Predictors of good outcome recovery in a logistic regression analysis were onset of phobia after age 11, absence of psychiatric comorbidity and greater education. The disorder was often missed in medical consultation. Increased rates of psychiatric comorbidity existed, especially for other anxiety disorders and for schizophrenia/schizophreniform disorder. There was increased risk of neurological disorder. Social phobia was also associated with an increased rate of suicide attempts, antisocial behaviour and impaired school performance during adolescence, impaired medical health, increased health-seeking behaviour, poor employment performance, reduced social interaction and impaired social support. Comorbidity accounted for some, but not all observed differences.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , August 1993 , pp. 709 - 718
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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