Social anxiety and alcohol abuse

Social-anxiety disorders and alcohol abuse often go hand-in-hand yet little research has been done into the epidemiology of the two conditions when they occur co-morbidly (together). Researchers from Columbia University in New York used information from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions covering 43,093 people. They found that the lifetime prevalence of comorbid alcohol abuse and social-anxiety disorder was 2.4%. Social anxiety was associated with a 2.8x greater risk of alcohol dependence and a 1.2x greater risk of alcohol abuse. Social anxiety occured before alcohol abuse in 79.7% of co-morbid cases and co-morbid SAD was associated with an increased severity of alcohol dependence and abuse.

Schneier, F.R. ... [et al] - Social anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder co-morbidity in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Psychological Medicine June 2010, 40(6), 977-988