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Social Phobia

  • Chapter
Handbook of Effective Psychotherapy

Part of the book series: The Plenum Behavior Therapy Series ((PBTS))

Abstract

Following its inclusion in the psychiatric nomenclature with the publication of DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980), social phobia has been recognized as a significant mental health problem. The 1987 revision of DSM-III (DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) defined social phobia as “a persistent fear of one or more situations (the social phobic situations) in which the person is exposed to possible scrutiny by others and fears that he or she may do something or act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing” (p. 243). The social phobic situations include public speaking, eating, drinking, or writing in the presence of others, using public restrooms, and conversations with others. Although DSM-III suggested that fears were generally limited to one situation with little interference in functioning, research has revealed that most social phobics fear, and consequently avoid, two or more of these situations (Holt, Heimberg, Hope, & Liebowitz, 1992; Turner, Beidel, Dancu, & Keys, 1986), with a portion fearing most social contact with others. This latter portion has been identified as a generalized subtype in DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association, 1987).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0308, USA

    Debra A. Hope

  2. Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, 52246, USA

    Craig S. Holt

  3. Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, University at Albany-State University of New York, Pine West Plaza #4, Albany, New York, USA, 12205

    Richard G. Heimberg

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  1. Associates in Managed Care, 10200 East Girard Avenue, Suite C-356, Denver, Colorado, 80231, USA

    Thomas R. Giles

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Hope, D.A., Holt, C.S., Heimberg, R.G. (1993). Social Phobia. In: Giles, T.R. (eds) Handbook of Effective Psychotherapy. The Plenum Behavior Therapy Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2914-9_10

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