Social phobia and its impact in Indian university students

Background: Social phobia even though being a common psychiatric disorder is still under recognized and under treated. We study prevalence, severity, disability and quality of life with respect to social phobia among university students in India. Methods: A stratified sample of 380 undergraduate university students was assessed to identify the extent of social phobia, its correlates as well as resulting disability and quality of life. Results: Social phobia was found in 19.5% of participants, in varied degrees of severity and correlated with various faculties in university, resulting in significant disability in work, social life, and family life, as well as impairment in quality of life. ‘Acting, performing or giving a talk in front of an audience’ was the most commonly feared/avoided situation. Students reported various clinical manifestations affecting academic, social and interpersonal areas. Conclusions: High prevalence and marked impact on life demands stringent efforts to recognize and treat social phobia.