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The Validity of Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-report and the Association of Depression with Professional Help-seeking among Individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder

Objectives: Patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) often have a fear of seeking professional help. In this study, we intended to validate the Taiwanese version of the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-report (IDS-SR), and to investigate whether severity of depression and/or social anxiety is associated with professional help-seeking among Internet users with SAD. Methods: In the study part I, we recruited volunteers through the internet, assessed their social anxiety and depression, and examined the Taiwanese version of the IDS-SR. In study Part II, we again recruited volunteers from the Internet and outpatient clinic, and did the telephone or face-to-face interview to establish the validity of the IDS-SR. Finally, the results of both parts were integrated to analyze help-seeking behaviors. Results: We included 2,079 participants in study part I, which showed that the IDS-SR was reliable. In the Part II study, the IDS-SR was found to be valid from 104 participants. Among the study Part I participants who reached the threshold of SAD, a high prevalence (52.9%) of major depressive disorder was found. Multiple logistic regression analysis of scores of the participants who met the threshold of SAD (n = 1,483) revealed that the IDS-SR total score was significantly associated with professional help-seeking (p < 0.001), whereas the severity of social anxiety was not. Conclusion: The Taiwanese version of IDS-SR was valid and reliable. The severity of depression, rather than that of social anxiety, was associated with professional help-seeking behaviors among Internet users with SAD. Screening depression in people with SAD has the potential in identifying those who may seek professional help.