Social anxiety disorder is very common and often coexists with other mental health problems. It can be severely detrimental to quality of life, with far-reaching consequences for education, employment and relationships. Only a minority of people with social anxiety disorder receive help, but this guideline demonstrates that effective treatments exist and it aims to increase identification and assessment so that people can access interventions to help them overcome this disabling condition.

The guideline reviews the evidence for the management of social anxiety disorder across the care pathway in adults, children and young people. It reviews evidence for identification and assessment, and compares the effects of pharmacological and psychological interventions. Interventions for adults are compared using a network meta-analysis. The guideline also contains a chapter on improving access to services and the experience of care for people with social anxiety disorder.