Critical Analysis Paper

Social Anxiety Disorder in Children

Name

Institution/Affiliation

1.0  Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

SAD is listed as a personality disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) the latest edition of the standard reference guide to mental disorders. According to Afifi et al. (2010), SAD creates a platform that can destabilize the lives of those who suffer from it. Children diagnosed with this disorder are characterized by noticeable avoidance of close interpersonal relationships or social situations as a result of excessive fear of being judged or scrutinized by others.  Indeed, children with this disorder depict feelings of mistrust, low self-esteem, and inadequacy towards others.  Social anxiety disorder is treated regarding how much the disorder has affected the ability of the affected child to function in daily life (Miskovic et al., 2011).  In principle, there are various interventions to mitigate the effects of this disorder, for example, the administration of antidepressants and use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Diagnosis and Symptoms 

SAD in children can be diagnosed by a general practitioner or a primary care physician by carrying out a physical complemented by a psychological evaluation. According to (Corna and Gage, 2010), a physical exam on the affected child helps the doctors to rule out any physical causes for the symptoms being depicted. The child will be referred to a mental health provider, for example, psychologist or psychiatrist so that the child will undergo more tests to determine the extent of the condition.  In the United States, diagnosed patients must meet the DSM criteria, a manual used by mental health providers as well as insurance companies when determining if a patient is eligible for reimbursement. Conversely, SAD is associated with a considerable fear of embarrassment or humiliation; as such, the disorder may be depicted in various physical...