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Social phobia in children
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Social phobia in children (social anxiety disorder) is an obsessive fear of making mistakes, being mocked or humiliated in social situations. Typical is that children avoid situations that can provoke assessment, public error analysis (for example, in school). Diagnosis is based on anamnestic data. Treatment includes behavioral therapy; In severe cases, SSRI is used.
[Signs of social phobia in the child
Avoiding school is often the first manifestation of social phobia, especially in adolescents. Complaints are often somatized (for example, "My stomach hurts", "My head hurts"). In some cases, the child repeatedly visits the doctor and is examined for these somatic complaints. Children with social phobias are afraid that they will be disgraced before their peers because they will give the wrong answer, say something inappropriate, get confused, or fear that they will vomit in front of others. In some cases, a social phobia is manifested after the child has been in an unsuccessful and 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 skip school. Passes only make the child even more resistant to attending school.
Not all children and adolescents are sufficiently motivated to participate in behavioral therapy; the part may not have a sufficient effect. In such cases, anxiolytics, for example, one of the SSRIs, can be very effective. Treatment with SSRI may reduce anxiety enough to facilitate the child's involvement in behavioral therapy.