Medication for social anxiety disorder

Stein DJ, Ipser JC, van Balkom AJ

Published Online:

January 21, 2009

Social phobia (SP), or social anxiety disorder, is increasingly viewed as a prevalent and disabling medical disorder. This systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) provides evidence of the efficacy of medication, and SSRIs in particular, in treating social phobia. Summary statistics for responder status (using the Clinical Global Impressions scale change item (CGI-I)) and for SP symptoms and symptom clusters (using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)) demonstrated that medication was significantly more effective than placebo. This effect was most consistently observed amongst the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), and to a lesser extent amongst the MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) and the reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A, brofaromine and moclobemide. The same pattern was observed in the reduction of comorbid depression and associated disability. Furthermore, maintenance and relapse prevention studies confirm the value of longer-term medication in treatment responders.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Social phobia (SP), or social anxiety disorder, is a prevalent and disabling disorder. The growing evidence of the disorder's neurobiological basis has stimulated an increased interest in the use of medication in its treatment.

Objectives:

To assess the effects of pharmacotherapy for social phobia, and to determine whether particular classes of medication are more effective and/or acceptable than others in its treatment.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety & Neurosis Group (CCDAN) specialised register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library issue 1, 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to 2003), PsycINFO (1966 to 2003), and reference lists of retrieved articles. We also requested published and unpublished RCTs from SP researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

Selection criteria:

All placebo-controlled randomised trials of the pharmacotherapy of SP were considered for the review.

Data collection and analysis:

Two raters independently collated trial data, and assessed trial quality. Investigators were contacted to obtain missing data. Summary statistics were stratified by medication group (SSRIs - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; MAOIs - Monoamine oxidase inhibitors; moclobemide and brofaromine). Dichotomous and continuous measures were calculated using a random effects model, heterogeneity was assessed, and subgroup/sensitivity analyses were undertaken.

Main results:

37 RCTs of a range of medications were included in the analysis (5264 participants), of which 23 were short-term (14 weeks or less). A funnel plot provided evidence of publication bias.

Twenty-six trials demonstrated short-term superiority in treatment response of all medication groups over placebo (N = 3696; relative risk of non-response (RR-non) = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.57, 0.73). However, the SSRIs were significantly more effective than both moclobemide (Qb = 38.61; p < 0.00001), and, and to a lesser extent, brofaromine (Qb = 2.87; p = 0.09).

Sixteen comparisons of symptom severity showed a statistically significant difference between medication and placebo (weighed mean difference = -18, 95%CI = -25.17, -10.83). This effect was once again most evident for the SSRIs. Medication also reduced SP symptom clusters, comorbid depressive symptoms, and associated disability. The value of long-term medication treatment in treatment response was demonstrated by 4 maintenance (RR-non = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.50, 0.77) and 4 relapse prevention (RR of relapse = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.49) studies. Two performance anxiety RCTs reported mixed results.

Authors' conclusions:

Medication appears effective in treating SP over the short term (particularly amongst the SSRIs), and the long term. Nevertheless, the possibility of publication bias has to be acknowledged. Additional issues for future research include the use of medication in children and adolescents with SP, SP with comorbid psychiatric disorders, and performance anxiety.

This record should be cited as:

Stein DJ, Ipser JC, van Balkom AJ. Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD001206. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001206.pub2

Assessed as up to date:

July 20, 2000

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Primary Review Group:

Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group

Health topics:

Mental health > Anxiety disorders > Phobias

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Medication for social anxiety disorder

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