Social phobia. The most common anxiety disorder.

Social phobia, the avoidance of social situations for fear of humiliation and embarrassment, has historically been under-recognised. Today, social phobia is the third most common psychiatric disorder that, left untreated, has been shown to have a marked impact upon the quality of life and success of sufferers. Specific pharmacotherapy and psychological therapies used simultaneously or alone, have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of this disorder.