ABSTRACT
Social phobia is one of the most common anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (Verhulst et al., 1997). About one in every five children presenting to a specialty anxiety clinic has significant social fears (Beidel and Turner, 1998). Social phobia, specifically, is associated with a range of psychosocial impairments including social withdrawal and avoidant behaviour, social skill deficits, poor peer relationships, test anxiety and impairment in academic performance, and in more severe cases, depression, conduct problems, and alcohol and substance abuse (Vernberg et al., 1992; Beidel and Turner, 1998; DSM-IV, APA, 1994). Retrospective studies of adult anxiety patients have demonstrated that social phobia in the childhood years is predictive of anxiety in adulthood, with early diagnosis (that is, prior to 11 years of age) predictive of non-recovery in adulthood (Davidson, 1993; cited in Beidel and Turner, 1998).
