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Social phobias in children
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Social phobias in children (social anxiety disorder) are an obsessive fear of making mistakes, being ridiculed, or humiliated in social situations. Typically, children avoid situations that may provoke evaluation, public analysis of mistakes (for example, at school). Diagnosis is based on anamnestic data. Treatment includes behavioral therapy; in severe cases, SSRIs are used.
[ Signs of Social Phobia in a Child
Avoidance of school is often the first manifestation of social phobia, especially in adolescents. Complaints are often somatized (e.g., "My stomach hurts," "My head hurts"). In some cases, the child will visit the doctor and be examined multiple times for these somatic complaints. Children with social phobias fear embarrassing themselves in front of their peers by giving the wrong answer, saying something inappropriate, getting confused, or being afraid of vomiting in front of others. In some cases, social phobia appears after the child has been in an unfortunate or humiliating situation. In severe cases, children may refuse to talk on the phone or even refuse to leave the house.
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Treatment of social phobia in a child
Behavioral therapy is the cornerstone of treatment. The child should not be allowed to miss school. Missing school only makes the child more resistant to going to school.
Not all children and adolescents are motivated enough to participate in behavioral therapy; some may not respond well. In these cases, anxiolytics, such as one of the SSRIs, can be very effective. Treatment with an SSRI may reduce anxiety enough to make it easier for the child to participate in behavioral therapy.