Generalized social phobia. Reliability and validity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the reliability and validity of DSM-III-R "generalized" social phobia by examining interrater agreement and comparing patients with generalized and "nongeneralized" social phobia on demographic characteristics, clinical variables, and familial social phobia.


METHODS
Two senior clinicians classified 129 patients attending an anxiety clinic as having DSM-III-R social phobia that is generalized (fears most social situations) or nongeneralized (less than most) based on independent narrative review.


RESULTS
Good reliability was achieved (kappa = 0.69). Patients with generalized social phobia were more often single, had earlier onsets of social phobia, had more interactional fears, and had higher rates of atypical depression and alcoholism. Familial social phobia was more common among patients with generalized social phobia than patients with nongeneralized social phobia and controls, with no difference between the latter two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Generalized social phobia (1) can be distinguished reliably from nongeneralized social phobia, (2) is a valid subtype, and (3) may characterize a familial form of the disorder.
Mannuzza
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.
Schneier
F R
FR
Chapman
T F
TF
Liebowitz
M R
MR
Klein
D F
DF
Fyer
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044469:Racial Groups; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009626:Terminology as Topic