title: [Social phobia in essential tremor].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is aimed to determine the frequency of social phobia among a group of subjects with essential tremor, to compare subject groups with and without social phobia with regard to the level of social phobia and disability, and to study the effect of the severity of social phobia on disability in essential tremor.
  
  
  METHODS
  45 subjects, diagnosed with essential tremor were included in the study, and their severity of tremor and essential tremor-related functional impairment were determined. Subjects were evaluated in 2 groups; those with a social phobia diagnosis and those without, as determined with the SCID-I interview. Additionally, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) were administered to both groups and the findings were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Social phobia was observed in 19 subjects (42.2%) with essential tremor. While no difference was found between the groups in terms of tremor severity scores, the mean score of tremor-related functional disability in the social phobia group was found to be higher. Among subjects with social phobia, the mean fear and avoidance scores on LSAS were higher, whereas social lives and leisure activities of the same group were observed to have been affected more, according to SDS scores. Social avoidance and tremor severity were predictive for the difference on SDS. A significant and positive correlation between fear and avoidance, and disability in the group with social phobia was established.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that essential tremor patients diagnosed with social phobia demonstrated higher social anxiety and disability compared to those without social phobia, and that social avoidance contributed to disability. Identifying social phobia in essential tremor patients and diagnosing these patients with social phobia, contrary to DSM's restrictive approach, would be appropriate and beneficial in terms of providing sufficient treatment.
authors.affiliation: Marmara U Tip Fak., Psikiyatri AD., Istanbul.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Topçuoğlu
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bez
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sahin Biçer
authors.forename: Hüssein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dib
authors.forename: M Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kuşçu
authors.forename: Cağri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yazgan
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ince Günal
authors.forename: Esat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Göktepe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index