Social Anxiety Disorder

Question 1

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria A

Answer 1

Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others. Examples include social interactions (e.g., having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people), being observed (e.g., eating or drinking), and performing in front of others (e.g., giving a speech).

Note: In children, the anxiety must occur in peer settings and not just during interactions with adults.

Question 2

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria B

Answer 2

The individual fears that he or she will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will negatively be evaluated (i.e., will be humiliating or embarrassing; will lead to rejection or offend others)

Question 3

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria C

Answer 3

The social situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety.

Note: In children, the fear or anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, clinging, shrinking, or failing to speak in social situations.

Question 4

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria D

Answer 4

The social situations are avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety.

Question 5

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria E

Answer 5

The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the social situation and to the sociocultural context.

Question 6

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria F

Answer 6

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more.

Question 7

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria G

Answer 7

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Question 8

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria H

Answer 8

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.

Question 9

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria I

Answer 9

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder, such as panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, or autism spectrum disorder.

Question 10

Social Anxiety Disorder Criteria J

Answer 10

If another medical condition (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, obesity, disfigurement from burns or injury) is present, the fear, anxiety, or avoidance is clearly unrelated or is excessive.

Question 11

Social Anxiety Disorder Specifiers

Answer 11

Specify if

Performance Only: if the fear is restricted to speaking or performing in public.