Social phobia: prevalence and diagnostic threshold.

This article reviews the literature on the prevalence and demographic features of social phobia in both community and general medical settings. The age at onset of social phobia is examined, as are comorbid conditions. Important differences between social phobia as it appears in the community and in primary care settings are explored. We conclude that social phobia is common and associated with significant impairment in a number of life areas. We discuss the diagnostic threshold of social phobia and potential difficulties in differentiating this disorder from other mental disorders.