Critical review of conceptual aspects on social phobia (social anxiety disorder)

Abstract

Two important nosological areas of debate currently exist concerning social phobia. The first focusses on the denomination of this disorder. In this respect, experts recommend a change in the denomination to Social Anxiety Disorder, since this better expresses the magnitude and the impact of the illness and focussess less on the behavioral aspect (avoidance) of the disorder.

The second area refers to the current situation of overlap between social phobia and avoidance personality disorder. Experts on this field consider that avoidance personality disorder represents a severe form of generalised social phobia, and therefore, that it should disappear as an independent diagnostical category on Axis II, and become part of social phobia on axis I.