Self-Reported Symptoms of Social Anxiety in a Sample of Combat Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self-reported levels of social anxiety among combat veterans was assessed using the Social Phobia and Anxiety inventory (SPAI). Participants were 45 veterans with combat-related PTSD assessed using a multimeasure assessment package. The veterans reported a high level of social anxiety and agoraphobia-like symptoms. Agoraphobia scores were predicted by PTSD severity and elevated by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) scales of acute distress and psychopathology. Social phobia scores were predicted by severity of depression. The relationship between social anxiety, depression, and PTSD is discussed. Implications for the assessment and treatment of PTSD are also discussed.