Comparing the prevalence rates of social phobia in a community according to ICD-10 and DSM-III-R.

OBJECTIVE

This population-based study aimed to compare the prevalence rates of social phobia using DSM-III-R and CID-10, based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), in a Brazilian community.

METHODS

This survey was carried out in a representative sample of 1,041 residents from Bambuí, Minas Gerais, Brazil (attrition rate = 14.7%). The Brazilian version of the CIDI was used. One-month, one-year and lifetime social phobia prevalence rates were estimated, employing the DSM-III-R and ICD-10 classifications, using the CIDI computer program.

RESULTS

One-month, one-year, and life prevalence rates of social phobia, based on the DSM-III-R (7.9, 9.0 and 11.7% respectively) were higher than those based on the ICD-10 (4.7, 5.2 and 6.7% respectively; p < 0.01 for all).

CONCLUSION

Our results reinforce the hypothesis that the prevalence of social phobia is higher when based on the DSM-III-R compared to the ICD-10 classification.