Predictors of persistence of social anxiety disorder: A national study

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly prevalent and impairing. Little is known about rates and predictors of persistence of SAD in the community. The current study derived data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, Wave 1 (2001–2002, n = 43,093) and Wave 2 (2004–2005, n = 34,653), a large survey of a representative sample of the United States adult population. Individuals with current DSM-IV SAD at Wave 1 were re-interviewed 3 years later at Wave 2 using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM IV Version (AUDADIS-IV). We found that in the community, 22.3% of respondents with SAD at the Wave 1 evaluation met DSM-IV criteria for SAD three years later, and endorsement of social interaction fears and a higher number of avoided social situations, treatment-seeking during past year, and comorbidity with mood disorders independently predicted persistence of SAD. These results suggest that persistence of SAD in the community is common and associated with symptom severity and comorbid mood disorders.