For these reasons, Social Anxiety Disorder patients have not been extensively studied. The cause of Social Anxiety Disorder is still a complex and debated topic, and the results are unclear. Some scientists believe that the disorder is related to an imbalance of the brain chemical serotonin. Environmental influences may also contribute to the disorder. Whatever the causes of SAD, its symptoms are life affecting, and many sufferers turn to drugs and alcohol in order to minimize them.
SAD victims are an estimated four times more likely than the general public to abuse alcohol.
However, a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 1999 suggested that the symptoms of SAD may not be diminished by alcohol itself. It concluded that, alcohol does not directly reduce social phobic anxiety, but the belief that one received alcohol may reduce social anxiety. In addition to an increased risk of alcoholism, people with Social Anxiety Disorder are at a higher risk of depression, and of dropping out of school, because of problems with social and academic demands. Also, sufferers are more likely to be single, because of the social pressures involved with pursuing a relationship. Although the effects of Social Anxiety Disorder can be crippling, many treatments are available to allow patients to lead a normal life.