European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PREVALENCE OF SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER AMONG MEDICAL INTERNS AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS.

A. Godson* and M. B. Abdulrahuman

ABSTRACT

Social anxiety disorder is a least understood and under recognized disorder among all anxiety disorders. Individuals with social anxiety disorder avoid situations in which there is potential for negative evaluation by others or face the situation with overwhelming fear or anxiety and distress. They have difficulty in interact with strangers or unfamiliar situations. Their safety seeking behaviour usually impairs their social and academic performances. Aim: To study the prevalence and severity of social anxiety disorder and its impact among medical interns and postgraduate students of a tertiary care centre. Method: A Cross sectional prevalence study was conducted among medical students by asking them to fill the self administered Liebowitz social anxiety scale and Sheehan’s disability scale. Result: In our study population 60% are female students and remaining (40%) are male students. The mean age of the study sample is 24.42. Among the study population 12%(n=16) of students have significant social anxiety. Majority students with social anxiety disorder are male 7.6%(n=10), remaining are female 4.5%(n=6). Moderate social anxiety is the most common type. Co-morbid substance abuse was negligible (n=1) among students with social anxiety. Conclusion: Prevalence of social anxiety disorder is significantly high among medical students. In contrast to other studies, male students have higher prevalence of social anxiety and the comorbid substance abuse also insignificant in students with social anxiety. The social anxiety is not associated with any disability in our study sample.

Keywords: Social anxiety disorder, social phobia, Liebowitz scale, anxiety.