The epidemiology of social anxiety disorder in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
OBJECTIVE
To present nationally representative data on 12-month and lifetime prevalence, correlates and comorbidity of social anxiety disorder (SAD) among adults in the United States as determined by the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.


METHODS
Face-to-face survey.


METHODS
The United States.


METHODS
Adults (aged 18 and over) residing in households and group quarters (N = 43,093).


METHODS
Prevalence and associations of SAD with sociodemographic and psychiatric correlates and Axis I and II disorders.


RESULTS
The prevalence of 12-month and lifetime DSM-IV SAD was 2.8% (95% CI = 2.5 to 3.1) and 5.0% (95% CI = 4.6 to 5.4), respectively. Being Native American, being young, or having low income increased risk, while being male, being of Asian, Hispanic, or black race/ethnicity, or living in urban or more populated regions reduced risk. Mean age at onset of SAD was 15.1 years, with a mean duration of 16.3 years. Over 80% of individuals with SAD received no treatment, and the mean age at first treatment was 27.2 years. Current and lifetime SAD were significantly related to other specific psychiatric disorders, most notably generalized anxiety, bipolar I, and avoidant and dependent personality disorders. The mean number of feared social situations among individuals with SAD was 7.0, with the majority reporting anxiety in performance situations.


CONCLUSIONS
Social anxiety disorder was associated with substantial unremitting course and extremely early age at onset. Social anxiety disorder often goes untreated, underscoring the need for health care initiatives geared toward increasing recognition and treatment. Comprehensive evaluation of patients with SAD should include a systematic assessment of comorbid disorders, and novel approaches to the treatment of comorbid SAD are needed.
Grant
Bridget F
BF
Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biometry, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), NIH/DHHS, 5635 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD 20892-9304, USA. bgrant@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
Hasin
Deborah S
DS
Blanco
Carlos
C
Stinson
Frederick S
FS
Chou
S Patricia
SP
Goldstein
Rise B
RB
Dawson
Deborah A
DA
Smith
Sharon
S
Saha
Tulshi D
TD
Huang
Boji
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology