Abstract
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a significant co-morbidity between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Despite the fact that many studies have demonstrated strong relationships between SAD and AUD diagnoses, there has been much inconsistency in demonstrating causality or even directionality of the relationship between social anxiety and alcohol-related variables. For example, some studies have showed a positive relationship between social anxiety and alcohol-related variables, while others have shown a negative relationship or no relationship whatsoever. In an attempt to better understand the relationship between social anxiety and alcohol, some researchers have explored potential moderating variables such as gender or alcohol expectancies. The present review reports on what has been found with regard to explaining the high co-morbidity between social anxiety and alcohol problems, in both clinical and non-clinical socially anxious individuals. With a better understanding of this complex relationship, treatment programs will be able to better target specific individuals for treatment and potentially improve the efficacy of the treatments currently available for individuals with co-morbid SAD and AUD.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 734-760 |
Number of pages | 27 |
Journal | Clinical Psychology Review |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2005 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The first author is supported through a doctoral studentship from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. The second author is supported through an Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health