Social Phobia Phenomenology and Subtypes

Social Phobia Phenomenology and Subtypes

Many researchers in the area of social phobia tend to classify the disorder into two main subtypes. DSM-IV requires that diag-nosticians specify whether a social phobia diagnosis is “general-ized”, or includes most social situations. In addition, a “discrete or circumscribed” subtype is often used by investigators to de-scribe patients with only one domain of social anxiety, usually involving performance-related situations (e.g., public speaking).

Several studies have examined differences among these subtypes. Specifically, patients with generalized social phobias tend to be younger, less educated and less likely to be employed than are patients with discrete social phobias. In addition, gen-eralized social phobias are associated with more depression, anxiety, general distress and concerns about negative evaluation from others. Discrete social phobias appear to be associated with greater cardiac reactivity.