The treatment for social phobia varies for the different types, according to Hollander. For people with generalized social phobia, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) have proven to be useful. Hollander also recommends cognitive/behavioral therapy, which can stop negative thought patterns and help patients reenter feared situations. For performance social phobia, beta blockers can alleviate anxiety symptoms caused by the fear of performing in public.

Sources:

The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Simon and Schuster, New York: 1998.

Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. Simon and Schuster, New York: 1999.