title: Self-medication in social phobia: a review of the alcohol literature.
abstract: It is well documented that many individuals endorse the belief that alcohol reduces social anxiety. Individuals with social phobia, therefore, might be expected to use alcohol as a coping strategy in an attempt at self-medication. The purpose of the present paper was to review the published literature on the relationship between alcohol use and social phobia to test the self-medication hypothesis (SMH). Support for one aspect of the SMH was found; individuals with social phobia use alcohol to reduce anxiety. Support for the second premise, that alcohol actually reduces social anxiety, was less conclusive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina at Aiken, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801, USA. maureec@aiken.sc.edu
authors.forename: Maureen H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Carrigan
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Randall
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D012106:Research; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology*