Pharmacotherapy of social phobia: an interim report of a placebo-controlled comparison of phenelzine and atenolol.
Forty-one patients meeting DSM-III criteria for social phobia completed a randomized comparative trial of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine, the cardioselective beta-adrenergic blocker atenolol, and placebo. No significant differences were seen after 4 weeks of treatment in this preliminary trial. At the end of 8 weeks, however, phenelzine demonstrated greater efficacy than atenolol or placebo on dimensional ratings of overall severity of social phobia. No atenolol-placebo differences were observed. The authors shall present maintenance and discontinuation findings in a final report. Phenelzine may act in patients with social phobia by directly reducing interpersonal hypersensitivity.
Liebowitz
M R
MR
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Gorman
J M
JM
Fyer
A J
AJ
Campeas
R
R
Levin
A P
AP
Sandberg
D
D
Hollander
E
E
Papp
L
L
Goetz
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011897:Random Allocation
D010919:Placebos; D001262:Atenolol; D010624:Phenelzine