Avoidant disorder and social phobia in children and adolescents.

The diagnoses of avoidant disorder and social phobia in children have received little research attention. Although DSM-III-R describes avoidant disorder and social phobia as data are available to support this notion. The current study examined characteristics of avoidant disorder and social phobia by comparing outpatient youngsters with avoidant disorder, social phobia, and avoidant disorder plus social phobia on demographic variables and patterns of comorbidity. The psychiatric groups were compared with matched normal controls on symptom measures of depression and fear. Findings indicated that the three psychiatric groups were strikingly similar on all but one variable, age at intake. These findings question the notion of avoidant disorder and social phobia as distinct disorders in children and adolescents.