hardsocial anxiety disorderavoidant personality disordercomorbidityCBTSSRIexposure therapy
A 29-year-old man presents with a longstanding pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation that has been present since early adolescence. He avoids work activities involving interpersonal contact and is unwilling to engage with people unless certain of being liked. He also experiences acute anxiety with physiological symptoms including tremor and diaphoresis in social performance situations such as work presentations. He meets criteria for both social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder. He has never received psychiatric treatment. When developing a comprehensive initial treatment plan, which approach is most appropriate?