Admixture analysis of the diagnostic subtypes of social anxiety disorder: Implications for the DSM-V

Idan M. Aderka, Angela Nickerson, Stefan G. Hofmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and objectives: Much controversy exists regarding diagnostic subtypes of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The present study used admixture analysis to examine whether individuals with generalized and nongeneralized SAD belong to the same or different populations of origin. This can inform diagnostic subtyping of SAD in the forthcoming DSM-V. Methods: Treatment-seeking individuals with generalized SAD (n = 154) and nongeneralized SAD (n = 48) completed a battery of questionnaires. Based on participants' responses to the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), we estimated log likelihood and chi-square goodness-of-fit for models with 1, 2, 3, or 4 populations of origin, and compared models using forward stepwise estimation and maximum likelihood ratio tests. Results: Admixture analyses suggested that the two diagnostic subtypes of SAD belong to the same underlying population of origin. In addition, observable differences in depression, general anxiety, and comorbidity were no longer significant when controlling for social anxiety severity. Limitations: Our sample was recruited in the U.S. and was a treatment-seeking sample. Future studies should examine whether our results generalize to different cultures, and community samples. Conclusions: Support for qualitative differences between SAD subtypes was not found. Rather, our findings support the notion that the diagnostic subtypes of SAD differ quantitatively, and that SAD exists on a continuum of severity. This finding informs diagnostic subtyping of SAD in the forthcoming DSM-V.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)752-757
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
Volume43
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Admixture
  • Generalized
  • Nongeneralized
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Social phobia
  • Subtypes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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