The French version of the Social Interaction Self-Statement Test (SISST) was studied in 95 social phobia and 87 non-clinical subjects. Total scores on both positive and negative scales significantly discriminated social phobics from non-clinical control subjects. Social phobics had higher scores than controls on negative statements and lower scores on positive statements. The positive and negative subscales of the SISST for social phobic patients were correlated with anxiety, depression and avoidant behaviours. The negative subscale was significantly sensitive to change in patients with social phobia receiving cognitive behavioural therapy. Our findings showed good convergent and discriminant validity of the SISST and the sensitivity of the negative sub-scale to improvement after cognitive behavioural therapy.