Beyond DSM-5: an alternative approach to assessing Social Anxiety Disorder

Sonja Skocic; Henry Jackson; Carol Hulbert

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.12.006

Beyond DSM-5: an alternative approach to assessing Social Anxiety Disorder

J Anxiety Disord. 2015 Mar:30:8-15. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.12.006. Epub 2014 Dec 25.

Authors

Sonja Skocic¹, Henry Jackson², Carol Hulbert³

Affiliations

¹ Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: sskocic@hotmail.com.
² Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
³ Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: cah@unimelb.edu.au.

PMID: 25577721
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.12.006

Abstract

This article focuses on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classification of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The article details the diagnostic criteria for SAD that have evolved in the various editions and demonstrates that whilst there have been some positive steps taken to more comprehensively define the disorder, further revision is necessary. It will be argued that the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) has made some changes to the diagnostic criteria of SAD that do not seem to be completely in line with theory and research and do not describe SAD effectively in terms of both diversity and presentation. This article concludes with the presentation of a proposed set of diagnostic criteria that address the concerns raised in the article. The proposed criteria reflect a hybrid categorical-dimensional system of classification.

Keywords: DSM-5; Diagnostic criteria; Social Anxiety Disorder; Social Phobia.

MeSH terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders*
Evidence-Based Medicine
Fear
Humans
Phobic Disorders / diagnosis*
Phobic Disorders / psychology
Self Concept
Social Class