Social Anxiety in Adolescents

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a chronic, disabling and treatable disorder with common onset in adolescence. Virtually there are no Indian studies on SAD. The study was conducted to find out frequency, demographic and phenomenological characteristics of SAD, family related risk factors, academic impairment and comorbidity of depression among adolescents. 421 adolescents in one high-school were screened for SAD and depression and associated factors with academic impairment. 54 (12.8%) had SAD. The most common manifestation of SAD was avoiding giving speeches. SAD was equally common among both genders, was associated with difficulty in coping with studies, concern about weight, having less friends, lack of intimacy with parents, and being treated differently from siblings. In conclusion, SAD is a common adolescent disorder, with major depression as a comorbidity and associated with impairment in academic functioning. All adolescents especially with depression consulting medical professionals should be interviewed for SAD and treated.