Quality of life and clinical characteristics of patients with generalized and performance-focused social anxiety disorder: An Italian study

Introduction. The aim of this study is to investigate quality of life (QoL) and clinical characteristics of generalized (GSAD) and performance-focused social anxiety disorder (PFSAD). Method. Our sample includes 41 outpatients with social anxiety disorder and 100 control subjects. QoL was assessed using the Quality of Life and Enjoyment questionnaire. Assessments included the MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Symptom Checklist, the Work and Social Adjustment Scale and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Using the Liebowitz social anxiety scale, patients were divided into GSAD and PFSAD. Results. QoL of subjects with GSAD was lower than in controls in most areas, while only the areas of physical health and leisure time were impaired in patients with PFSAD. Patients with GSAD were more likely to be depressed, to meet criteria for substance abuse, to have higher severity scores on the CGI and the SCL-90 compared to PFSAD. Conclusions. GSAD is associated with widespread worsening of QoL, while patients with PFSAD had a poorer QoL than controls only in the areas of physical health and leisure time.