title: Social phobia: a comparison of specific and generalized subtypes and avoidant personality disorder.
abstract: The validity of the social phobia subtype distinction was examined in a large sample of carefully diagnosed social phobics (N = 89). Generalized and specific subtypes were diagnosed reliably, and the generalized subtype showed a consistent pattern of greater symptom severity than did the specific subtype. In addition, generalized social phobics with and without avoidant personality disorder were compared, and a difference was found for only 1 of 4 parameters. The results are discussed in terms of the validity of subtyping in social phobia and the diagnostic boundary between social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Beidel
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Townsley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012931:Social Environment