Delineation of social phobia in Saudia Arabians

Eighty Saudi Arabian males with social phobia who met DSMIIIR criteria, were evaluated psychiatrically and socially according to the MMPI social withdrawal scale standardized to the Saudi population. They were empirically grouped as mild, moderate or severe cases. They were also evaluated symptomatically according to the Leeds anxiety-depression scale to give ratings of depression and anxiety, separately and in combination. Thirty-seven and a half percent and 55% of the patients were mild-moderately and severely anxious respectively; 55% and 34% were mild-moderately and significantly depressed respectively. There was, however, no linear correlation between the level of anxiety or depression and the severity of social phobia. Social withdrawal ratings were matched with demographic variables, age of onset, perceived childhood adjustment, perceived parental behaviour, work adjustment, family history of psychiatric disorders, and the presence of other phobia. There was a negative correlation between social withdrawal scale and all of these variables except work adjustment, family history of psychiatric disorder and presence of other phobias. These results are discussed.