Social Phobia: A Comparative Clinical Study

Eighty-seven people with the symptom of social phobia were compared with 57 people with the symptom of agoraphobia to determine whether these symptoms were part of distinct syndromes. Comparisons were made on demographic, clinical and questionnaire data. Significant differences were found on important variables. The social phobics were younger and more often male, unmarried, and from social classes I and II. The pattern of phobic situations was different in the two groups and so was the pattern of autonomic symptoms experienced in these situations. Symptoms visible to others were more frequent among social phobics. Fainting was more frequent among the agoraphobics.