*DSM-5 Social Anxiety Disorder

DSM-5 Criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder

  • A. Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.

    • Note: In children, this anxiety must occur specifically in peer settings.

  • B. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated by others.

  • C. The social situation almost always provokes fear or anxiety in the individual.

  • D. The social situations are either avoided altogether or endured with intense fear or anxiety.

  • E. The fear or anxiety experienced is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the social situation and does not align with the sociocultural context.

  • F. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance must last for 6 months or more to meet diagnostic criteria.

  • G. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

  • H. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., drug abuse or medication) or a medical condition (e.g., Parkinson's disease).

  • I. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g. Panic Disorder, Social Phobia related to a medical condition).

Biological/Psychological Contributions to Social Anxiety Disorder

  • Inherited Tendency: There is a recognized inherited tendency toward behavioral inhibition in individuals.

Environmental Contributions

  • Compared to 35-50% of other disorders, social anxiety disorder is significantly influenced by peer and family dynamics.

    • Peer Influence: Approximately 92% of individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder have reported being victims of bullying during their formative years.

    • Family Influence: In many cases, social evaluation is perceived as inherently dangerous, contributing to the development and persistence of social anxiety.

Interpersonal Transaction Cycle

  1. Individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder often exhibit maladaptive behaviors such as attending primarily to negative information.

  2. This behavior can result in negative reactions from others.

  3. These negative responses from the environment reinforce the biased perception of reality held by individuals suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder.

  4. This cycle continues to perpetuate and deepen the experiences of anxiety and avoidance.