What DSM-5 change applies to Social Anxiety Disorder in adults?

What DSM-5 change applies to Social Anxiety Disorder in adults?

• A. They must show impairment in every setting
• B. They no longer need to recognize fear as excessive
• C. They require a fear of all social interactions
• D. They must have a history of panic attacks

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that DSM-5 removed the requirement that adults with Social Anxiety Disorder recognize their fear as excessive or unreasonable. This change means you can diagnose social anxiety even if the person doesn’t acknowledge that their fear is irrational, provided the fear is still inappropriately intense for the situation and causes significant distress or impairment. This broadens the criteria to include individuals who may have limited insight but still experience meaningful impairment in social or performance contexts. Other statements don’t fit because impairment in every setting isn’t required, fear doesn’t have to involve all social interactions, and a history of panic attacks is not part of the diagnostic criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder.

The main idea is that DSM-5 removed the requirement that adults with Social Anxiety Disorder recognize their fear as excessive or unreasonable. This change means you can diagnose social anxiety even if the person doesn’t acknowledge that their fear is irrational, provided the fear is still inappropriately intense for the situation and causes significant distress or impairment. This broadens the criteria to include individuals who may have limited insight but still experience meaningful impairment in social or performance contexts. Other statements don’t fit because impairment in every setting isn’t required, fear doesn’t have to involve all social interactions, and a history of panic attacks is not part of the diagnostic criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder.