Social phobia: the nature of the disorder

Social phobia is characterized by a fear of social situations, which are either avoided or endured with intense anxiety or distress. There is a high prevalence of social phobia in the community and the course of the condition tends to be chronic. In spite of the personal impact of social phobia, few sufferers seek professional help. This is due to a lack of awareness about the condition on the part of health professionals and the public. Social phobia demands increased awareness, so that sufferers receive the treatment they need and deserve, so giving them the opportunity to improve their quality of life. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.