[Social phobia in children and adolescents].

Epidemiological data indicate that anxiety disorders are the most common childhood disorders. 1% of children and adolescents suffer from social phobia and it may influence further adult life. The aim of the article is to show differences of child and adolescent social phobia and its diagnostic criteria. Contrast and distinction of childhood social phobia symptoms are also shown, such as risk factors of appearance of childhood social phobia. The article presents main therapeutic methods--psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy applied to children with phobia and difficulties with estimating efficacy of the particular therapy in this group of patients. Phobic children perceive surroundings more negatively. They have reduced estimations of their own competency to cope with danger. They also show cognitive impairments of ambiguous situations. As much as 60% children with social phobia suffer from a second, concurrent disorder. Widening of information about symptoms and therapeutic methods may reduce the intensity of the disorder during adulthood.