Social Phobia
Social Anxiety Disorder
According to the DSM-5, Social Anxiety Disorder (also called Social Phobia) is a marked or persistent fear of embarrassment or humiliation in one or more social or performance situations, in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The fear or avoidance is not better accounted by for by another disorder (e.g., Panic Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or Schizoid Personality Disorder).
- Exposure to feared situations almost always provokes anxiety that may even take a form of panic attack
- Feared situations are avoided or tolerated with great distress
- Fears can not be explained by substance use or general medical condition
- Symptoms must persist for 6 months prior to diagnosis, as temporary social phobia is common in children and adolescents
There are several subtypes of social phobia, including. Generalized social phobia is referred to as GSP, but there are specific types as well.
Treatment
The Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, located in Los Angeles, CA, treats social phobia using 'in vivo' exposures in Exposure Response Prevention Therapy, and will involve walking around the UCLA campus and/or Westwood area and seeking interactions with others. A cognitive component will be implemented through talk therapy and extensive writing exercises, and we may utilize other methods to customize treatment for the individual patient.
