title: Incidence of DIS/DSM-IV social phobia in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to estimate the incidence of social phobia in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Baltimore cohort of 3481 subjects, sampled during the 1981 Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, was traced. A total of 1920 subjects were re-interviewed from 1993 to 1996 using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). A subsample of 349 subjects was interviewed by psychiatrists using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated incidence of DIS/DSM-IV social phobia is 4-5/1000/year. New cases were found in all age groups, with the highest rates in subjects with baseline depressive and panic disorders. Psychiatric evaluations showed broad diagnostic concordance with DIS diagnoses in incident cases. However, validity indices were highly dependent on diagnostic thresholds. None of the psychiatrist-ascertained social phobics had received treatment for the disorder, although the majority were considered likely to benefit from treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New cases of social phobia occur in adults of all age groups, and are often secondary to other psychiatric conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors