The neurobiology of social phobia: from pharmacotherapy to brain imaging.
Social phobia is a common psychiatric disorder that is often associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity and disability. There is currently considerable evidence for the efficacy of pharmacotherapy, especially the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, in the treatment of this disorder. In addition, researchers have recently begun to explore the underlying neurobiology of social phobia with results that will likely have important implications for future treatments. This article provides a review of the results to date of controlled medication trials. A review of chemical and neuroendocrine challenges, neurotransmitter functioning, and neuroimaging studies in social phobia is provided, followed by a discussion of the implications of these findings for future treatment and research.
Van Ameringen
M
M
Anxiety Disorders Clinic, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada. vanamer@fhs.mcmaster.ca
Mancini
C
C
Farvolden
P
P
Oakman
J
J
D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors