Social Anxiety Disorder Subtypes and Their Mental Health Correlates in a Nationally Representative Canadian Sample

The present study aimed to assess the merit of subtyping social anxiety disorder by validating the nongeneralised subtype, differentiating the generalised and nongeneralised subtypes, and determining the role of feared social situations. Data came from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 (N = :36,984) of adults aged 15 years and older. Social anxiety disorder was assessed with the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview. In accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) criteria, generalised social anxiety disorder was defined as fearing at least 7 (i.e., most) of 13 feared social situations, whereas nongeneralised social anxiety disorder as fearing 6 or fewer. Results indicated that the nongeneralised subtype was associated with increased odds of comorbid mood, anxiety, and suicidality compared with non-socially anxious adults. Conversely, the generalised subtype was not associated with increased odds of comorbid mental disorders and suicide attempts compared with the nongeneralisecl subtype after controlling for sociodemographic factors and other comorbid Axis I disorders. Finally, as the number of feared social situations increased, so did the odds of suffering from comorbid mood and anxiety disorders and suicidality. The present study has important implications for the DSM-5.