Putative clinical subtypes of social phobia: a factor-analytical study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine symptomatological subtypes of social phobia (SP) and their relationships with a number of feared situations and avoidant personality disorder (APD).


METHODS
In 153 out-patients with SP according to DSM-III-R criteria, clinical subtypes were investigated by means of principal component factor analysis of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). We compared the various SP subtypes on the basis of the highest Z-scores obtained on each LSAS factor.


RESULTS
Five factors (interpersonal anxiety, formal speaking anxiety, stranger-authority anxiety, eating and drinking while being observed, anxiety of doing something while being observed) emerged, accounting for 64.7% of the total variance. When the dominant LSAS factor groups were compared, the highest values in the numbers of feared situations and the presence of APD were observed in the "interpersonal anxiety" dominant group and the lowest in the "anxiety of doing something while being observed". The "interpersonal anxiety" dominant group was the most likely to present a positive family history for SP and a lifetime comorbidity with mood disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
The emerging multidimensional structure of phobia is congruent with, and further enriches, the existing literature.
Perugi
G
G
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy.
Nassini
S
S
Maremmani
I
I
Madaro
D
D
Toni
C
C
Simonini
E
E
Akiskal
H S
HS
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; 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