What type of disorder is social phobia classified as?

Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is classified as an anxiety disorder. This type of disorder is characterized by intense and persistent fear of social situations where an individual may be judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized by others. The anxiety experienced in these situations can lead to significant distress and avoidance behaviors, impairing daily functioning.

In this context, anxiety disorders encompass a range of conditions that involve excessive fear or anxiety, which aligns perfectly with the experiences of individuals suffering from social phobia. Their anxiety often manifests in physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, or rapid heartbeat when faced with social interactions, further emphasizing the connection to anxiety disorders.

The other options, such as personality, mood, and behavioral disorders, represent different classifications of mental health conditions that do not capture the specific nature of the fear and anxiety central to social phobia. Personality disorders typically relate to long-standing patterns of thought and behavior that differ markedly from cultural expectations, while mood disorders focus on the regulation of emotions, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Behavioral disorders generally pertain to patterns of behavior that disrupt normal functioning, which does not specifically address the anxiety dimension critical to social phobia.