Social phobia: anxiety disorder comorbidity.

Research findings indicate significant comorbidity rates among the anxiety disorders, both between the various anxiety conditions and with other psychiatric and medical disorders. Although some other anxiety disorders have been widely investigated, social phobia was relatively unstudied before 1985. The authors review relevant epidemiological and clinical studies on comorbidity among the anxiety disorders, as well as on the relationship of social phobia with other anxiety disorders. They suggest that social phobia is a distinct diagnostic category and conclude that until a common methodological framework is established for obtaining reliable data, controlled comorbidity studies will not be fully beneficial.