Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment

What happens during an assessment?

Will information about me remain private?

Can you tell me more about social anxiety disorder?

Are there any support organisations in my local area?

Do you have any information for my parents/carers?

Can you tell me why you have decided to offer me this particular type of treatment?

What are the pros and cons of this treatment?

What will it involve and how long will the treatment take?

How will it help me? What effect will it have on my symptoms and everyday life? What sort of improvements might I expect?

How long will it take to have an effect?

Where can I have treatment?

What treatments are there other than the ones you have offered me?

What will happen if I choose not to have the treatment you have offered?

Where can I find other information (like a leaflet, DVD or a website I can go to) about the treatment that I can have?

How long will I have to take the medication?

Could you explain any problems I might have when I stop taking the medication?

Could you explain any common and/or serious side effects associated with this medication?

What should I do if I get any side effects? (For example, should I call my GP, or go to the emergency department at a hospital?)

Could you explain any long-term effects of taking this medication?

Which of my problems is this medication treating? (If you have more than one problem, for example, social anxiety disorder and depression).

Can you give us some information about social anxiety disorder and its treatments?

What can we do to help and support our child?

Can you give us any information about how to get help and support if our child has a crisis?

Is there any additional support we might benefit from or be entitled to?