Original scientific paper
Social Phobia
Pavo Filaković
Veljko Đorđević
Elvira Koić
Lana Mužinić
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is an irrational fear of being observed and
judged by other people in various social settings. The individual is afraid that he or she
will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing. It is often a chronic, disabling
condition that is characterized by a phobic avoidance of most social situations.
Social anxiety disorder is the most frequent anxiety disorder (10–15%) that occurs in
two subtypes – generalized and specific. It is a disorder that occurs during the adolescence
and reflects negatively to the quality of life of an individual. Neurobiological basis
of this disorder has not been explored yet. The disorder is frequently burdened with
comorbidity with other anxiety disorders, depression and substance-related disorders.
Only cognitive-behavioral techniques are desirable in the psychotherapeutic treatment
of the disorder and the best results are achieved in combination with pharmacotherapy.
The medicaments of choice in the treatment of social anxiety disorder are selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors. Anxiolytics should be used only as a supplementary in the
acute phase. Treatment of social anxiety disorder should last at least 3 months up to one
year.
Keywords
social phobia; social anxiety disorder; etiology; neurobiology; treatment
Hrčak ID:
28119
URI
Publication date:
26.6.2003.
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