Almost half of the people who have social anxiety disorder also suffer from another mental disorder. Depression is the most common — people with social anxiety disorder are three times more likely to be depressed. Alcoholism, substance abuse, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder are also more common in people who have social anxiety disorder. When social anxiety disorder is accompanied by another mental disorder, the social anxiety disorder almost always starts first. Fortunately, treatments that are helpful for social anxiety disorder are often also helpful for depression and other anxiety disorders. Early identification and treatment of social anxiety disorder may even prevent the development of at least some of these associated disorders.