ABSTRACT
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a chronic and disabling condition known to affect between 13 and 16% of the population (1, 2). In the National Comorbidity Survey, it was the third most common mental disorder and the most prevalent of the anxiety disorders (1). Individuals afflicted with this disorder, particularly those with the generalized subtype, experience considerable impairment across multiple areas of their lives, including work, school, daily activities, and family and social relationships (3). Over the last several decades, we have seen an impressive growth of research activity devoted to the development and testing of treatments for this disorder. As a result, our knowledge about how best to intervene has advanced significantly. Individuals struggling with what was once referred to as the “neglected anxiety disorder” (4) now have available to them multiple treatment options with demonstrated efficacy.
