Emerging Treatments for Child and Adolescent Social Phobia: AReview

Abstract

Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia (SP), is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive fear of exposure to situations that involve potential scrutiny by others. SP is a common psychiatric problem in children and adolescents, often presenting with comorbid anxiety and mood disorders. Although the onset of SP is typically in late childhood or early adolescence, most afflicted individuals go undiagnosed for years, not seeking treatment until adulthood. First-line treatments for SP in adults support the use of pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. There is new and emerging data in youths with SP to support the use of similar treatments. This paper will review the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, and treatment of SP in youths. Current investigations using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, benzodiazepines, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors in youths will be reviewed. Several studies on the use of cognitive behavioral therapy in youths will also be examined. Practical guidelines for clinicians who treat children and adolescents are also presented.

Social Anxiety and Peer Relations in Early Adolescence: Behavioral and Cognitive Factors

“…Early adolescence is an important developmental period for the study of social anxiety, due to the increase in the disorder that occurs during these years (Mancini et al, 2005), and the significant, long-term maladjustment associated with it (Beidel & Turner, 1998;Morris, 2001). Although this study focused on early adolescents with subclinical (though elevated) levels of social anxiety, it had the advantage of examining multiple aspects of social functioning in the middle school context using multiple informantsand a developmentally-equivalent, non-anxious comparison group.…”

“…Social anxiety involves an excessive fear of interpersonal scrutiny and the associated potential for embarrassment or humiliation (Mancini, van Ameringen, Bennett, Patterson, & Watson, 2005). Rates of social anxiety begin to climb significantly in the preadolescent and early adolescent years, fueling increases in the onset of social phobia, which peaks around age 15 (Mancini et al, 2005).…”

“…Rates of social anxiety begin to climb significantly in the preadolescent and early adolescent years, fueling increases in the onset of social phobia, which peaks around age 15 (Mancini et al, 2005). Spontaneous recovery is rare, and many youth diagnosed with social phobia experience chronic and severe adjustment problems, including educational underachievement, underemployment, relationships difficulties, and concurrent mood disorder (Beidel & Turner, 1998;Morris, 2001).…”

Social competence with an unfamiliar peer in children and adolescents with high functioning autism: Measurement and individual differences

“…Social anxiety is performance-related distress that involves a fear of negative evaluation in social situations and anticipated feelings of humiliation (Mancini, Ameringen, Bennett, Patterson, & Watson, 2005). For children with HFA, awareness of social and behavioral differences inherent to the diagnosis may serve to increase anxiety in social situations (Henderson et al, in press).…”

Social Anxiety and Phobia in Adolescents

“…SAD is a common psychiatric problem in children and adolescents, often presenting with comorbid anxiety and mood disorders. Although the onset of SAD is typically in late childhood or early adolescence, most affl icted individuals go undiagnosed for years, not seeking treatment until adulthood (Mancini et al 2005 ).…”