title: Social anxiety disorder: epidemiology, biology and treatment.
abstract: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is considered to be one of the most common anxiety disorders. Despite its high prevalence, the disorder is still considerably underdiagnosed and undertreated. SAD shows a typically early onset in childhood or early adolescence and generally becomes chronic. The disease places a massive burden on patients lives, affecting not only their social interactions but also their educational and professional activities, thereby constituting a severe disability. Although substantial progress in the study of the etiology of SAD has been made, no commonly accepted model has emerged yet. Data from genetic and neuroimaging studies point towards a contribution of several neurotransmitter systems (i.e. norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin) to the pathophysiology of this disorder. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have repeatedly emphasized the central role of the amygdalae and insula in the neural circuitry of the disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are commonly accepted as first line therapy, however other substance classes like serotonin norepineprine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), benzodiazepines and several other agents have also proved effective. There is still a substantial lack of data on therapeutic options in cases of non-responsive SAD as well as on add-on therapy. A combined treatment-approach including psychotherapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy) may prove useful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akimova
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spindelegger
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzenberger
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasper
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs