Stein DJ, et al. – This study coveted an inquiry of the prevalence, course, impairment, socio–demographic correlates, comorbidity, and treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in different geographic regions of the world. In addition, it ascertained if the variations in SAD reflected differences in the threshold for diagnosis. Though the variations in SAD prevalence across countries were apparent, several consistent patterns were determined across the globe, with the inclusion of early age of onset, persistence, impairment in multiple domains, as well as characteristic socio–demographic correlates and associated psychiatric comorbidities. Regardless of the differences in the patterns of impairment correlating with SAD across the globe, crucial similarities indicated that the threshold for diagnosis was similar despite the country income levels or geographic location. Hence, it laid stress on the international clinical and public health importance of SAD.