Sertraline for social phobia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of social phobia.


METHODS
In a double-blind crossover study, 12 outpatients were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of sertraline (50-200 mg/day, flexible dosing) and 10 weeks of placebo.


RESULTS
A statistically significant improvement in scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale was found with sertraline but not with placebo. There was no significant difference between scores obtained with computer- and clinician-administered versions of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and the majority of patients preferred to be interviewed by the computer.


CONCLUSIONS
Sertraline seems a safe and effective treatment for social phobia, and computer administration may be a preferable mode of assessment with socially phobic patients.
Katzelnick
D J
DJ
Foundation for Health, Research and Education, Madison, WI 53717, USA.
Kobak
K A
KA
Greist
J H
JH
Jefferson
J W
JW
Mantle
J M
JM
Serlin
R C
RC
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline