Correlates of treatment seeking in individuals with social anxiety disorder: Findings from a nationally representative sample

Abstract

Despite the availability of well-established and efficacious treatments for social anxiety disorder, most socially anxious individuals do not seek treatment and those who do often suffer for years before seeking treatment. A more comprehensive understanding of the factors related to treatment seeking for social anxiety disorder is needed. This study utilized the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III), a large representative U.S. adult sample, to examine the relationships between treatment seeking for social anxiety disorder and demographic characteristics, psychiatric comorbidities, social anxiety disorder symptomatology, and specific feared situations. Socially anxious individuals (n = 1,255) were identified using DSM-V criteria and treatment seeking was measured by either seeking help from a professional or being prescribed medication for social anxiety disorder symptoms. Results indicate key relationships between treatment seeking and age as well as comorbid anxiety disorders. Importantly, this study found that specific feared situations such as fear of small groups (AOR = 1.78) and speaking in social gatherings (AOR = 1.66), and specific social anxiety disorder symptoms such as panic attacks (AOR = 2.92) were significantly and uniquely associated with increased treatment seeking for social anxiety disorder.