Background: This review evaluates the DSM‐IV criteria of social anxiety disorder (SAD), with a focus on the generalized specifier and alternative specifiers, the considerable overlap between the DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for SAD and avoidant personality disorder, and developmental issues. Method: A literature review was conducted, using the validators provided by the DSM‐V Spectrum Study Group. This review presents a number of options and preliminary recommendations to be considered for DSM‐V. Results/Conclusions: Little supporting evidence was found for the current specifier, generalized SAD. Rather, the symptoms of individuals with SAD appear to fall along a continuum of severity based on the number of fears. Available evidence suggested the utility of a specifier indicating a “predominantly performance” variety of SAD. A specifier based on “fear of showing anxiety symptoms” (e.g., blushing) was …