Social phobia: the Anxiety Disorders Associated of America helps raise the veil of ignorance.

Social phobias affect some 2.4 million American adults, and more than 5 million can expect to develop a social phobia during their lifetime. Despite their prevalence, social phobias have been virtually ignored until this past decade. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) was founded in 1980 to promote awareness among professionals and the public of anxiety disorders. This paper outlines the objectives of ADAA and its programs, including the Self-Help Group Network, helpful publications, and its partnership with psychiatrists and patients. The benefits of self-help programs to persons with social phobias are illustrated, including the role played by the clinician in evaluation and referral. The ADAA program for the 1990s focuses on the education of all health professionals and the creation of awareness of economic costs of undiagnosed anxiety disorders.