Introduction: The objective of this paper is to show that there is no medical treatment method of social anxiety disorder without any adverse effects. Affecting over 10 million Americans, social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is the most common type of anxiety disorder and the third most common psychiatric disorder after depression and alcoholism. Social anxiety disorder is also considered one of the most neglected anxiety disorders, with only five percent of patients receiving some form of treatment.
People with social anxiety disorder have an intense fear of being scrutinized by other people in social or performance situations and of negative evaluation. They literally become "sick with fear" and are afraid of acting in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating, causing them to avoid such situations in the future or endure these "everyday" situations with dread. These situations may include speaking in public, initiating or maintaining a conversation with strangers or people in authority, participating in meetings or classes, attending parties or dating.( Burke, R.S., and Stephen, R.S. 2005)
Social phobia is a highly prevalent yet often overlooked psychiatric disorder that can cause severe disability but fortunately has shown responsiveness to specific pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Recognition of its essential clinical features and the use of brief, targeted screening questions can improve detection within family practice settings. Cognitive behavioral therapy, with or without specific antidepressant therapy, is the evidence-based treatment of choice for most patients. Adjunctive use of benzodiazepines can facilitate the treatment response of patients who need initial symptom relief. The use of beta blockers as needed has been found to be helpful in the treatment of circumscribed social and performance phobias. Treatment planning should consider the patient's preference, the severity of presenting symptoms, the degree of functional impairment, psychiatric and substance-related comorbidity, and long-term treatment goals.( Burke, R.S., and Stephen, R.S. 2005).................
