title: Lifetime patterns of social phobia: a retrospective study of the course of social phobia in a nonclinical population.
abstract: This study describes the natural course of social phobia as recalled by a sample of nonclinical subjects and explores, using qualitative research methods, perceived risk factors and factors that may cause changes in its course. Thirty-nine respondents with a lifetime diagnosis of social phobia were interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule based on DSM-IV criteria. Four main lifetime patterns emerged: a slight worsening of social phobic symptoms over time, no change, slight improvement and complete remission. Thirty-eight percent of the sample was in remission at the time of interview. The mean age of onset was 12.8 +/- 4.1 years. The average duration of illness was 29.0 +/- 12.7 years. Factors perceived by respondents to precipitate social phobia, using contract analysis, were family and school environment, onset of adolescence, low self-esteem, temperament and poverty. Factors perceived to improve symptoms were building self-esteem, exposure, determination, maturity and counseling. Factors perceived to worsen symptoms were avoidance, exposure to negative attention and comorbid disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. umchart3@cc.umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chartier
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hazen
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D010553:Personality Development; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome