Social phobia in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being (NSMHWB).
BACKGROUND
This article reports data on social phobia from the first large scale Australian epidemiological study. Prevalence rates, demographic correlates and co-morbidity in the sample that met criteria for social phobia are reported and gender differences examined.


METHODS
Data were obtained from a stratified sample of 10641 participants as part of the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being (NSMHWB). A modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to determine the presence of social phobia, as well as other DSM-IV anxiety, affective and substance use disorders. The interview also screened for the presence of nine ICD-10 personality disorders, including anxious personality disorder, the equivalent of DSM-IV avoidant personality disorder (APD).


RESULTS
The estimated 12 month prevalence of social phobia was 2.3%, lower than rates reported in several recent nationally representative epidemiological surveys and closer to those reported in the Epidemiological Catchment Area study (ECA) and other DSM-III studies. Considerable co-morbidity was identified. Data indicated that the co-morbidity with depression and alcohol abuse and dependence were generally subsequent to onset of social phobia and that the additional diagnosis of APD was associated with a greater burden of affective disorder. Social phobia most often preceded major depression, alcohol abuse and generalized anxiety disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Social phobia is a highly prevalent, highly co-morbid disorder in the Australian community. Individuals with social phobia who also screen positively for APD appear to be at greater risk of co-morbidity with all surveyed disorders except alcohol abuse or dependence.
Lampe
L
L
Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety Disorders at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Slade
T
T
Issakidis
C
C
Andrews
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors