BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported social phobia in a community sample of Swedish adolescents in junior high school, at the risk-period for developing social phobia. Of particular interest was to investigate gender differences in prevalence across ages. Prevalence of sub-threshold social phobia was also studied. METHODS: Students in grades 6-8 (aged 12-14) from seventeen schools in five Swedish municipalities were screened by means of a self-report questionnaire, the social phobia screening questionnaire-for children (SPSQ-C). RESULTS: Data from a sample of 2,128 students were analysed and showed a point-prevalence rate of 4.4% (95%CI 3.5-5.2) and a significant gender difference (6.6% girls vs. 1.8% boys, P < 0.001). No significant differences in prevalence of probable cases emerged across the ages. At sub-threshold level, marked social fear of at least one social situation was reported by 13.8% of the total group. "Speaking in front of class" and "calling someone unfamiliar on the phone" were the most feared social situations. In the social phobia group, 91.4% reported impairment in the school-domain due to their social fear. CONCLUSION: Social phobia is a common psychiatric condition in Swedish adolescents, especially in girls. As impairment in the school-domain is reported to a high degree, professionals and teachers need to recognize social phobia in adolescents so that help in overcoming the difficulties can be offered.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported social phobia in a community sample of Swedish adolescents in junior high school, at the risk-period for developing social phobia. Of particular interest was to investigate gender differences in prevalence across ages. Prevalence of sub-threshold social phobia was also studied. METHODS: Students in grades 6-8 (aged 12-14) from seventeen schools in five Swedish municipalities were screened by means of a self-report questionnaire, the social phobia screening questionnaire-for children (SPSQ-C). RESULTS: Data from a sample of 2,128 students were analysed and showed a point-prevalence rate of 4.4% (95%CI 3.5-5.2) and a significant gender difference (6.6% girls vs. 1.8% boys, P < 0.001). No significant differences in prevalence of probable cases emerged across the ages. At sub-threshold level, marked social fear of at least one social situation was reported by 13.8% of the total group. "Speaking in front of class" and "calling someone unfamiliar on the phone" were the most feared social situations. In the social phobia group, 91.4% reported impairment in the school-domain due to their social fear. CONCLUSION:Social phobia is a common psychiatric condition in Swedish adolescents, especially in girls. As impairment in the school-domain is reported to a high degree, professionals and teachers need to recognize social phobia in adolescents so that help in overcoming the difficulties can be offered.
Authors: F Almqvist; K Puura; K Kumpulainen; E Tuompo-Johansson; I Henttonen; E Huikko; S Linna; K Ikäheimo; E Aronen; S Katainen; J Piha; I Moilanen; E Räsänen; T Tamminen Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1999 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Ronald C Kessler; Patricia Berglund; Olga Demler; Robert Jin; Kathleen R Merikangas; Ellen E Walters Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2005-06
Authors: Malin Gren-Landell; Andreas Björklind; Maria Tillfors; Tomas Furmark; Carl Göran Svedin; Gerhard Andersson Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2009-11-11 Impact factor: 3.033