title: [Guidelines of the Brazilian Medical Association for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of social anxiety disorder].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder. The condition has a chronic course usually with no remission and is frequently associated with significant functional and psychosocial impairment. The Brazilian Medical Association, with the project named Diretrizes ('Guidelines', in English), endeavors to develop diagnostic and treatment protocols for the most common disorders. This work presents the most relevant findings regarding the guidelines of the Brazilian Medical Association concerning the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the methodology proposed by the Brazilian Medical Association for the Diretrizes project. The search was performed on the online databases Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and Lilacs, with no time restraints. Searchable questions were structured using PICO format (acronym for "patient or population"; "intervention, indicator or exposition"; "control or comparison" and; "outcome or ending").
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present data regarding the clinical manifestations of social anxiety disorder, impairments and implications related to the condition, differences between the generalized and specific subtypes, and the relationship with depression, drug dependence and abuse, and other anxiety disorders. Additionally, the main differential diagnoses are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The guidelines are intended to serve as references to the general practitioner and the specialist as well, facilitating the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurociências e Ciências do Comportamento, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, and Hospital das Clínicas-Terceiro Andar, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Hortes N
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chagas
authors.forename: Antonio E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Gisele G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Manfro
authors.forename: Luiz Alberto B
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hetem
authors.forename: Nathalia C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Andrada
authors.forename: Michelle N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Levitan
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Salum
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Isolan
authors.forename: Maria Cecília Freitas
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: José Alexandre S
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crippa
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001938:Brazil; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012955:Societies, Medical