The impact of alcohol use disorders and alcohol consumption on treatment-seeking individuals with social anxiety disorder.
Mirjana Subotic-Kerry, Andrew J Baillie, Lexine A Stapinski, Maree J Abbott, Jo MacDonald, Jonathan E Gaston, Ronald M Rapee
Author Information
Mirjana Subotic-Kerry: Research Program Manager/Adjunct Associate Lecturer, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia.
Andrew J Baillie: Professor of Allied Health (Community Health), Sydney Local Health District and Sydney School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.
Lexine A Stapinski: Senior Research Fellow, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Maree J Abbott: Associate Professor/Director of Clinical Education, The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, Australia.
Jo MacDonald: Clinical Psychologist, PhD Candidate, Queensland University of Technology, School of Justice, Faculty of Law, Brisbane, Australia.
Jonathan E Gaston: Clinical Psychologist, Sydney Anxiety Disorders Practice, Marrickville, Australia.
Ronald M Rapee: Professor, Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Comorbid social anxiety and alcohol use disorders (SAD-AUD) in the community and the complex interactions that occur between these disorders have emerged as a significant clinical, public health, and research issue. The authors examined (a) the rates of comorbid SAD-AUD, (b) the impact of comorbid SAD-AUD on outcomes targeting social anxiety disorder, and the effect of pretreatment alcohol consumption and alcohol use before, during, and after social situations on a composite measure of social anxiety in 172 adults presenting with social anxiety disorder. There was low incidence of AUD in this sample of individuals with SAD. Results indicated that alcohol consumption did not lead to worse social anxiety symptoms; however, alcohol use before and during social situations was associated with more severe social anxiety symptoms. These findings suggest that the function of alcohol use may be more important than the overall level of alcohol use and has implications for treatment.
