Feeling nervous in social situations is something almost everyone experiences, but for some people, that fear is intense, persistent, and disruptive. I would know. I was diagnosed with social anxiety three years ago. If I hadn’t gone to the doctor to get myself checked out, it would have taken me years to understand the pain I was going through. 

This is why identifying whether you have social anxiety or not is so important. It can put you months ahead of the recovery curve. So, if you’ve ever wondered whether what you’re feeling goes beyond ordinary shyness or nervousness, understanding how professionals classify social anxiety disorder ICD-10 can be eye-opening. 

In this article, we’ll break down exactly what the ICD-10 says about social anxiety disorder, explore the criteria doctors use to diagnose it, and explain why this classification matters for anyone navigating social anxiety.

We’ll also show how it compares to the DSM-5 system used in the United States, giving you a complete picture of how mental health professionals understand this common, treatable condition.

By the end, you’ll understand what social anxiety disorder ICD-10 really means—and why that knowledge can be the first step toward getting the support and treatment you deserve.

I. What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder is far more than nervousness or fear in social situations — it is a deeply ingrained, persistent fear of being judged, humiliated, embarrassed, criticized, or scrutinized by others. The fear behind social anxiety isn’t rational — it is created over years of emotional neglect and loneliness, negative social experiences, genetics, and low self-esteem. 

The disorder itself is a reflection of your psychological state. It is a sign that numerous, multi-level mental processes are unproductive and need to be redesigned. In order to overcome social anxiety, you would need to resolve fundamental, core beliefs that impact the way you think, feel, and behave around others, such as the way you perceive yourself (your social identity), other people, and the world. It requires deep introspection and reflection. 

As someone who has overcome social anxiety, I understand how difficult it can be to live with this mental illness. If you would like more information about how I was able to recover and live a life of freedom (without social anxiety), feel free to subscribe to my newsletter, where you will get weekly content on how to recover from social anxiety. 

Symptoms of social anxiety often fall into three categories:

1. Physical symptoms: Rapid heartbeat, sweating, blushing, shaking, nausea, or difficulty speaking in social situations.
2. Cognitive symptoms: Worrying excessively about how others perceive you, fear of judgment, or overthinking past interactions.
3. Behavioral symptoms: Avoiding social events, speaking less in public, or only interacting with familiar people.

Recognizing these patterns is the first step in understanding whether your experiences align with social anxiety disorder. Later in this article, we’ll see how social anxiety disorder ICD-10 classification formalizes these symptoms into diagnostic criteria, giving doctors a clear framework for identifying and treating social anxiety.

II. Social Anxiety Disorder ICD-10 Classification

The ICD-10, or International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, is the system doctors around the world use to diagnose and code medical conditions, including mental health disorders.

The ICD code for social anxiety is F40.1 – Social Phobias. This formal classification gives doctors a standardized way to recognize, document, and treat social anxiety.

• F40.1 – Social Phobias: An anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, irrational fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the individual believes that he or she will be scrutinized by others.
  • F40.10 – Social Phobia, Unspecified
    • Fear is limited to specific situations (e.g., public speaking, eating in public)
    • Avoidance is focused, and symptoms may be less pervasive but still impact daily life
  • F40.11 – Social Phobia, Generalized
    • Fear and avoidance occur across most social situations
    • Associated with broader impairment in work, school, or social interactions

It’s very important to note that social anxiety disorder ICD-10 (or social phobia) is split into two subtypes: generalized and “unspecified,” or non-generalized.

Analyzing whether your anxiety happens in very specific social situations, such as public speaking, eating in public, going on a date, or giving a performance, is very important for overcoming your mental illness. 

III. Social Anxiety Disorder ICD-10 Criteria

Moreover, to receive a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (F40.1) under the ICD-10, a person must meet several criteria. These criteria help distinguish social anxiety from ordinary shyness, introversion, or temporary nervousness:

1. Marked fear or anxiety in social situations
   • The person experiences intense fear or anxiety in one or more social or performance situations. Examples include:
     • Speaking or giving a presentation in front of others
     • Eating or drinking in front of people
     • Writing, performing, or participating in class or meetings
     • Meeting new people or interacting with strangers
     • Being observed while doing everyday activities, such as using public restrooms or waiting in line
2. Avoidance or endurance with distress
   • The person either avoids these situations whenever possible or endures them with extreme discomfort.
   • Avoidance may interfere with work, school, relationships, or social life.
   • Enduring the situation often leads to severe anxiety, panic-like symptoms, or emotional distress.
3. Physical symptoms
   • Anxiety is accompanied by physical reactions, such as:
     • Sweating or clammy hands
     • Trembling or shaking
     • Blushing or flushing
     • Nausea or stomach discomfort
     • Racing heart, shortness of breath, or muscle tension
     • Difficulty speaking or making eye contact
4. Duration and impact
   • Symptoms are persistent, typically lasting six months or more.
   • They significantly interfere with daily life, affecting education, work performance, relationships, and social functioning.
5. Exclusion of other causes
   • The anxiety cannot be better explained by another mental disorder, substance use, or medical condition.

While most people with social anxiety tend to meet all five of these categories, it is possible to have some, but not all, of them. Be sure to consult a professional clinician or psychological specialist to determine the extent and severity of your anxiety.

IV. Differences Between ICD-10 and DSM-5 

The ICD-10 and DSM-5 are both systems used by clinicians to classify mental health conditions, but they approach social anxiety slightly differently in terms of categorization, naming, and diagnostic detail.

Categorization Differences

• ICD-10: Social anxiety disorder ICD-10 is classified under F40.1 – Social Phobias. It emphasizes the phobic nature of the fear, meaning the anxiety is linked to specific social or performance situations that the person either avoids or endures with distress.
• DSM-5: The condition is called Social Anxiety Disorder and is considered an anxiety disorder rather than a phobia. DSM-5 focuses on functional impairment across social or performance situations, with greater attention to the severity, duration, and subtypes, including:
  • Performance-only subtype: Anxiety occurs only in public performance situations (e.g., public speaking).
  • Generalized subtype: Anxiety occurs in most social situations, similar to ICD-10’s generalized category.

Key distinction: the ICD-10 uses the term “social phobia” and frames the disorder in the context of fear and avoidance, while the DSM-5 uses the broader term “social anxiety disorder” and emphasizes the overall pervasive and impairing nature of the condition.

Why DSM Changed the Name

For decades, the DSM-5, like the ICD, used the term “social phobia” to classify what we know as social anxiety. Under the DSM-III (1980) and DSM-IV (1994), the condition was classified as a “phobic disorder,” reflecting the understanding at the time that the fear was primarily situational and specific. 

Over time, however, research revealed that social anxiety was far more than an ordinary phobic condition—it was a pervasive, impairing illness that negatively affects people’s lives across multiple dimensions. To fully capture the widespread impairment it can cause, the DSM-5, published in 2013, changed the name of social anxiety from “social phobia” to “social anxiety disorder.”

Their justification at the time was that this new name better reflected the chronic and debilitating nature of the condition, which could reduce stigma and misunderstanding. 

Personally, I think the name change was a very good decision. Let me know in the comment section below which name—social phobia or social anxiety disorder—you prefer, or maybe if you have another name that should be considered for the condition.

V. How the ICD-10 Impacts Real-Life Diagnosis

Understanding the ICD-10 classification is useful not only for patients but also for clinicians. Here’s why the ICD is so important across medical and psychological healthcare sectors: 

1. Standardizes Diagnosis Across Healthcare Systems
   • ICD-10 codes ensure that doctors worldwide use the same definitions and criteria.
   • This allows for consistent documentation, referrals, and continuity of care.
2. Supports Therapy and Treatment Planning
   • Clinicians use ICD-10 codes to decide the most appropriate interventions, including therapy, counseling, or medication.
   • Helps track symptom severity and monitor progress over time.
3. Facilitates Insurance Coverage
   • Many insurance providers require an official ICD-10 code to cover treatment.
   • Provides a clear justification for therapy sessions, medications, or specialized programs.
4. Guides Clinical Assessments
   • During patient interviews, doctors use ICD-10 criteria to structure questions and evaluate symptoms.
   • Helps determine whether social anxiety is specific, generalized, or performance-only, ensuring an accurate diagnosis.
5. Empowers Patients
   • Understanding the ICD-10 code assigned to you helps make sense of your diagnosis.
   • A code does not define you—it is a tool to guide treatment, access resources, and plan recovery.
6. Supports Research and Public Health
   • Aggregated ICD-10 data allows researchers to study prevalence, risk factors, and treatment outcomes for social anxiety.
   • Helps policymakers allocate resources and develop mental health programs.

VI. Social Anxiety Disorder ICD-10 Resources & Tests

Self-assessment tools can help you understand how your experiences align with social anxiety disorder ICD-10:

• Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS): A widely used questionnaire that evaluates fear and avoidance in social and performance situations.
• Free online social anxiety tests and quizzes: These can give you a snapshot of your symptoms and how they compare to clinical criteria.

It’s important to remember that online quizzes and self-assessments are not official diagnoses. They are tools for reflection and awareness, not substitutes for professional evaluation.

If your results indicate significant social anxiety, consider consulting a qualified mental health professional. A licensed clinician can provide a definitive diagnosis, interpret your experiences in context, and recommend evidence-based treatments tailored to your needs.

Using these resources alongside the contents of social anxiety disorder ICD-10 can help you better understand your symptoms, track patterns, and take the first steps toward managing social anxiety effectively.

VII. Conclusion / Next Steps

Social anxiety can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that it is a treatable condition. Understanding how clinicians classify and assess it, such as through the ICD-10, is the first step in making sense of your experiences and accessing effective support.

For a deeper look at how social anxiety is defined in the United States, including slightly different criteria and subtypes, check out our upcoming article on the DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety disorder.

In the meantime, you can take a free social anxiety test to reflect on your own experiences, or explore related posts comparing social anxiety to shyness, avoidant personality disorder, or generalized anxiety. These resources can help you better understand your symptoms, take actionable steps, and move toward treatment and recover.