title: Comorbidity of social anxiety disorder and antisocial personality disorder in the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).
abstract: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) are not often thought of as being comorbid. However, recent research suggests the existence of a SAD subtype with characteristics atypical of SAD but common to ASPD. Thus, we explored two competing hypotheses: (1) SAD and ASPD represent opposite ends of a single dimension, or (2) SAD and ASPD exist on two separate dimensions that may be positively correlated. Data were obtained from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. SAD-ASPD was related to greater impairment and psychiatric comorbidity than either disorder alone. The SAD-ASPD group was also more likely to seek treatment for their SAD symptoms and to drink before/during antisocial acts than the SAD only group. The presence of SAD for individuals with ASPD (and vice versa) does not appear to provide any "protective benefits." SAD and ASPD appear to be two separate but correlated disorders.
authors.affiliation: Temple University, United States.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Galbraith
authors.affiliation: Temple University, United States. Electronic address: heimberg@temple.edu.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Heimberg
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, United States.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, United States.
authors.forename: Franklin R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Schneier
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, United States.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Antisocial personality disorder; Comorbidity; Social anxiety disorder; Social phobia