An overview of the current status of social phobia

Social phobia is a common and debilitating anxiety disorder that is associated with serious impairment in social and vocational functioning and increased risk of comorbid psychopathology. The disorder typically begins in adolescence and left untreated follows a chronic, unremitting course. Although little is currently known about the etiology of the condition, dramatic developments have been made in the assessment and treatment of social phobia over the past decade. Various medications and forms of behavior therapy have been shown to be effective, although many patients do not respond fully to treatment. The current status of social phobia and directions for future research are discussed.