Citation

Patel TA, Grubaugh AL, Cougle JR. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2023; 58(7): 1019-1028.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-023-02420-4

PMID

36680574

Abstract

PURPOSE: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is among the most highly prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disorders within the US population, but SAD has gone relatively unnoticed within the US veteran population. Preliminary research has demonstrated that SAD is related to decreased mental and physical functioning as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among veterans.

METHODS: The present study investigated SAD and its relationship with demographic factors, psychiatric disorders, suicidality, treatment seeking, and social support among veterans. Multivariate survey weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to observe these associations utilizing data from National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions which contained data on 3119 veterans.

RESULTS: SAD was found to be strongly related to PTSD and other anxiety disorder, and these disorders were related to increased treatment seeking for SAD. Further, SAD was associated with lifetime suicide attempts and decreased perceived social support in multivariate models adjusting for demographic factors and psychiatric comorbidities.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the relationships of SAD among veterans by demonstrating its associations with other psychiatric disorders, treatment seeking, suicide attempts, and social support. A deeper understanding of the impact of SAD within the veteran population will inform future prevention and treatment efforts.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Comorbidity; Suicide attempts; Social support; *Veterans/psychology; Veterans; *Phobia, Social/epidemiology; *Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology; Demography; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Social anxiety disorder; Treatment seeking