For a diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder ALL of the symptoms in this Section must be met. This fear must last for at least 6 months and not be caused by a substance (e.g., drug, alcohol, medication). If the symptoms are already present it is marked as Clearly Present. if the symptom has been longed for at least 6 months, it is marked as sustained.

• Someone with Social Anxiety Disorder experiences significant, excessive, and persistent anxiety when in a social situation where they might be judged. 

• The individual fears that he or she will act in a way or show anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated 

• The social situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety 

• The social situations are avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety. 

• The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the social situation and to the sociocultural context 

Besides the symptoms that were mentioned above, these symptoms also must be Clearly Present:

• The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more 

• The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.   

• The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance

• The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is not better explained by symptoms or another mental disorder, such as panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, or autism spectrum disorder. 

• If another medical condition (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, obesity, disfigurement from burns or injury) is present, the fear, anxiety, or avoidance is unrelated or is excessive.