Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsProfessional ScreeningsLabs and TestsAt-Home Testing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Professional Screenings
Labs and Tests
At-Home Testing
People with this disorder feel anxious or scared in specific or all social situations, such as meeting new people or job interviews, and avoid these situations.
This article discusses how social anxiety disorder is assessed and diagnosed. It also explains the social anxiety assessments used in professional screenings, other related tests, and the DSM-5 criteria.
Professional Screenings and Assessments
To make a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, a mental health professional will ask some questions about anxiety symptoms and life circumstances. Based on this assessment, the person may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder based on symptoms alone.
Symptoms
A mental health professional will ask about symptoms, including how frequently and when they occur.
People with social anxiety disorder may exhibit many cognitive and emotional symptoms during social situations, including:
Anxiety can also result in physiological changes, including:
Since anxiety disorders affect both children and adults, it is important that people of all ages be assessed for symptoms.
DSM-5 Criteria
Your healthcare provider will use the DSM-5 criteria to determine whether you have social anxiety disorder. The DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety disorder include the following:
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
The updated version also redefines a criterion of the disorder to include fear of negative evaluation and the social consequences of this behavior.
In addition, the former “generalized” specifier has been updated to “performance only” since some people with social anxiety disorder are only fearful of specific performance situations, such as speaking in front of an audience, rather than of general social situations.
Screening Tools
Certain screening tools are also used to better understand social anxiety symptoms and can help evaluate the severity of the condition.
A primary care healthcare provider would consider many different factors that could explain or contribute to symptoms of anxiety.
They may ask questions about the person’s life that could be causing these symptoms, such as a stressful job, unhappy romantic relationship, difficult relationships with loved ones, or more serious factors, such as living in an unsafe environment.
In addition, they may ask questions about any recent changes to diet, activity levels, or physical trauma that could impact the body and brain.
To ensure that anxiety symptoms are not related to medical conditions, healthcare providers may perform several tests, including:
Based on the results of the physical examination and blood tests, the healthcare provider may order additional tests to further explore potential clinical causes of anxiety symptoms.
If all assessments come back normal and there are no identified clinical causes that could explain the anxiety symptoms, the healthcare provider would likely refer the person to a mental health professional.
Anxiety in WomenWhile anxiety disorders affect both men and women, the prevalence of these conditions is significantly higher in women, approximately twice the prevalence in men.Therefore, it is recommended that women and girls 13 years or older be routinely screened for anxiety.
Anxiety in Women
While anxiety disorders affect both men and women, the prevalence of these conditions is significantly higher in women, approximately twice the prevalence in men.Therefore, it is recommended that women and girls 13 years or older be routinely screened for anxiety.
Self/At-Home Testing
People who are worried that they have social anxiety disorder can also take a survey at home. The Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) evaluates fear, avoidance, and physiology using 17 items. It is a sensitive and brief tool that is easily scored. There is also a shorter version called the Mini-SPIN, which contains three items.
Additional self-reported scales include the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, Social Phobia Scale, and Social Avoidance and Distress Scale.
If you or your loved one is having trouble managing symptoms of social anxiety, reach out for help. You can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at1-800-662-4357for support.
Summary
Social anxiety disorder causes persistent fear and worry during social situations. Previously known as social phobia, it is diagnosed based on criteria in the DSM-5. This includes a marked fear of social situations lasting longer than six months and not related to another medical or mental health condition.
To make a diagnosis, a mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker) will administer a social anxiety assessment, such as LSAS, BSPS, or Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder. Your healthcare provider will also rule out any possible physical causes of your anxiety symptoms.
Based on these findings, a mental healthcare provider can make a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder and help you manage your condition. Tackling social anxiety disorder early can help minimize the impact it can have on your daily life.
Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611–20. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(1):48-56. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 changes: Implications for child serious emotional disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016. Table 16, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder Comparison.Heimberg RG, Hofmann SG, Liebowitz MR, et al.Social anxiety disorder in DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2014;31(6):472–9. doi:10.1002/da.22231Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413American Psychiatric Association.Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)—adult.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611–20. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(1):48-56. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 changes: Implications for child serious emotional disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016. Table 16, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder Comparison.Heimberg RG, Hofmann SG, Liebowitz MR, et al.Social anxiety disorder in DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2014;31(6):472–9. doi:10.1002/da.22231Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413American Psychiatric Association.Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)—adult.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611–20. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(1):48-56. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 changes: Implications for child serious emotional disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016. Table 16, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder Comparison.Heimberg RG, Hofmann SG, Liebowitz MR, et al.Social anxiety disorder in DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2014;31(6):472–9. doi:10.1002/da.22231Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413American Psychiatric Association.Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)—adult.
National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.
Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611–20. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611
Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(1):48-56. doi:10.7326/M20-0580
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-5 changes: Implications for child serious emotional disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016. Table 16, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder Comparison.
Heimberg RG, Hofmann SG, Liebowitz MR, et al.Social anxiety disorder in DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2014;31(6):472–9. doi:10.1002/da.22231
Alomari NA, Bedaiwi SK, Ghasib AM, et al.Social anxiety disorder: associated conditions and therapeutic approaches.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32687. doi:10.7759/cureus.32687
Baroni D, Caccico L, Ciandri S, et al.Measurement invariance of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report.J Clin Psychol. 2023;79(2):391-414. doi:10.1002/jclp.23413
American Psychiatric Association.Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)—adult.
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