A 2-year follow-up of social phobia. Status after a brief medication trial.
Although social phobia is thought to be a chronic disorder, little is known about its long-term course in patients who engage in brief treatment studies. We, therefore, conducted a follow-up study of social phobics who had participated in a brief, placebo-controlled treatment trial of clonazepam. Of the original 75 subjects, 56 were assessed through telephone interview and self-report questionnaires that evaluated current social phobia symptoms. Information was also gathered about treatment received in the 2-year interval since the initial pharmacotherapy trial. The group as a whole showed maintenance of the gains acquired during initial treatment. On a number of symptom scales, subjects initially treated with clonazepam exhibited significantly less severe scores compared with placebo subjects. This study provides evidence of long-term benefit for social phobics when treated with a brief medication trial.
Sutherland
S M
SM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Tupler
L A
LA
Colket
J T
JT
Davidson
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010919:Placebos; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010919:Placebos; D002998:Clonazepam