Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is a psychological condition that causes overwhelming fear of situations that require social interaction or performance in front of others, such as public speaking. The fear often triggers physical symptoms such as blushing, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty concentrating, and may interfere with activities of daily living.
A person may fear almost all social situations or just a few specific situations. Treatment includes professional counseling and sometimes antianxiety medications or antidepressants.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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