Advances in recognition and treatment of social anxiety disorder: a 10-year retrospective.

Social anxiety disorder frequently begins in early life and is associated with the subsequent development of comorbid conditions such as depressive and substance use disorders. Social anxiety disorder, particularly the generalized subtype, is characterized by marked impairment in numerous functional domains, including education and social relations. Paroxetine, the first medication to receive an indication in the United States for the treatment of social anxiety disorder, has been shown to be effective in 50% to 60% of patients. The mechanism of action of paroxetine in the treatment of social anxiety disorder is at present unclear. A possible role for early treatment to prevent complications of social anxiety disorder should be explored.