Hundreds of thousands of US children suffer from social anxiety disorder, according to scientists. About 1 per cent of children aged between 10 and 18 have the condition, which is caused by an intense fear of being judged or scrutinized by other people. Patricia DiBartolo, an associate professor of psychology at Smith College, says parents and teachers should take note of adolescents’ social behavior by watching to see how they deal with the normal challenges of the school day. Treatment includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, where children are gradually exposed to anxiety-causing situations.
(HealthScout News 27/08/02)

© Health Media Ltd 2002
http://www.health-news.co.uk