T12 – 3.3 What are the Differentiating Factors of PTSD and Social Anxiety Disorder?

T12 – 3.3 What are the Differentiating Factors of PTSD and Social Anxiety Disorder?

What are the Differentiating Factors of PTSD and Social Anxiety Disorder?

  • PTSD-related avoidance of people and social situations is associated with: (1) avoidance of stimuli related to the trauma (e.g., smells, sounds, situations), and (2) avoidance of perceived threat and danger.
    • Avoidance of people and social situations among those with social anxiety disorder is associated with: (1) avoidance of being observed, judged, and/or scrutinized, and (2) avoidance of being negatively evaluated by others.
  • Individuals with PTSD will exhibit hypervigilance-related behaviors (e.g., scanning a room; always being “on guard”), particularly if they are out in public. This is done to try and detect and protect against possible danger.
    • Individuals with social anxiety disorder do not typically engage in any hypervigilance-related behaviors.
(APA, 2022)