Social Anxiety Disorder
Definition:
-It is a persistent and irrational fear of situations that may involve scrutiny or judgement by others
-Social anxiety disorder often leads to extreme self-consciousness and overwhelming anxiety
-It was very much underrecognized until 1985 when Dr. Michael Liebowitz of Columbia University
opened his Anxiety Disorders Clinic and began doing cognitive research and developing treatments for
anxiety disorders
-Also known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder is the third most common mental disorder in the
United States after depression and substance abuse.
-It is mildly genetic, as it is moderately heritable.
-The symptoms can vary from culture to culture.
Physiology and Symptoms:
-Social anxiety disorder is thought to be caused by an oversensitive amygdala that results from
neurochemical imbalances. It is theorized that anxiety disorders are partially the result of either a
lack of serotonin and dopamine or of their receptors.
-Physical symptoms include blushing, difficulty speaking, nausea, excessive sweating, and trembling.
In an episode of anxiety, the sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight system) is activated and
can result in elevated blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.
Treatment:
-Medication has been shown to be very effective in its treatment. However, it only treats the
symptoms of social anxiety disorder, not the cause.
-Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is a much more effective treatment. However, it is a much slower
process.
-The most effective way to treat social anxiety disorder has been found to be a combination of both
medications and cognitive-behavioral psychology.
Evolutionary Perspective:
-According to a 2007 study by Dr. Dan Stein*, the processing of negative facial expressions is
associated with heightened activation in the amygdala. Stein theorizes that social anxiety disorder is
a "false appeasement alarm" used to detect early signs of danger in others.
Helpful Links:
General Information
WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-social-anxiety-disorder
SAD.net - http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/
Health Matters: What is Social Anxiety Disorder? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4truuD_xMP0
Afraid of People: A Social Anxiety Disorder Documentary - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dsj_mwVlLc
Evolutionary Perspective
An Evolutionary Perspective on Social Anxiety Disorder - http://www.cnsforum.com/clinicalresources/articles/annualreviews/sad_evolution/
*Social Anxiety Disorder: Psychobiological and Evolutionary Underpinnings - http://www.cnsspectrums.com/aspx/articledetail.aspx?articleid=1326
-It is a persistent and irrational fear of situations that may involve scrutiny or judgement by others
-Social anxiety disorder often leads to extreme self-consciousness and overwhelming anxiety
-It was very much underrecognized until 1985 when Dr. Michael Liebowitz of Columbia University
opened his Anxiety Disorders Clinic and began doing cognitive research and developing treatments for
anxiety disorders
-Also known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder is the third most common mental disorder in the
United States after depression and substance abuse.
-It is mildly genetic, as it is moderately heritable.
-The symptoms can vary from culture to culture.
Physiology and Symptoms:
-Social anxiety disorder is thought to be caused by an oversensitive amygdala that results from
neurochemical imbalances. It is theorized that anxiety disorders are partially the result of either a
lack of serotonin and dopamine or of their receptors.
-Physical symptoms include blushing, difficulty speaking, nausea, excessive sweating, and trembling.
In an episode of anxiety, the sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight system) is activated and
can result in elevated blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.
Treatment:
-Medication has been shown to be very effective in its treatment. However, it only treats the
symptoms of social anxiety disorder, not the cause.
-Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is a much more effective treatment. However, it is a much slower
process.
-The most effective way to treat social anxiety disorder has been found to be a combination of both
medications and cognitive-behavioral psychology.
Evolutionary Perspective:
-According to a 2007 study by Dr. Dan Stein*, the processing of negative facial expressions is
associated with heightened activation in the amygdala. Stein theorizes that social anxiety disorder is
a "false appeasement alarm" used to detect early signs of danger in others.
Helpful Links:
General Information
WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-social-anxiety-disorder
SAD.net - http://www.socialanxietydisorder.net/
Health Matters: What is Social Anxiety Disorder? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4truuD_xMP0
Afraid of People: A Social Anxiety Disorder Documentary - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dsj_mwVlLc
Evolutionary Perspective
An Evolutionary Perspective on Social Anxiety Disorder - http://www.cnsforum.com/clinicalresources/articles/annualreviews/sad_evolution/
*Social Anxiety Disorder: Psychobiological and Evolutionary Underpinnings - http://www.cnsspectrums.com/aspx/articledetail.aspx?articleid=1326
Creighton University Honors Program
Sources and Methods: Evolutionary Psychology
Omaha, NE 68178
April 29, 2011
Editors: Kelly Dean, Adam Grahn, Nathan Messbarger
