Pharmacological treatment of social phobia

Social phobia is a common and disabling anxiety disorder that tends to have an early onset and runs a chronic course. It is characterized by a marked fear of negative evaluation in social or performance situations, and typically results in significant problems in social and professional relationships and lower levels of educational achievement and paid employment. It can occur as a separate entity or with comorbid conditions such as depression, alcohol abuse or other anxiety disorders. This contribution provides an overview of the pharmacological treatment of social phobia. Many treatments have been found efficacious in acute treatment, and the choice of a particular agent will be dependent on factors such as longer-term efficacy, side-effect profile and the risk of drug interactions. The most frequently suggested first-line treatment is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), but other effective treatments include venlafaxine, phenelzine and alprazolam. Some psychological therapies, in particular cognitive–behaviour therapy (CBT), have also been found efficacious.