Alcohol detoxification and social anxiety symptoms: a preliminary study of the impact of mirtazapine administration.
BACKGROUND
Social anxiety disorder is fairly prevalent among alcohol abusing/dependent subjects. The objective of the present study was to investigate: (a) the incidence of social anxiety symptoms in inpatient alcoholics, (b) the effect of alcohol detoxification on these symptoms, and (c) whether a combined psychotherapeutic/mirtazapine treatment during the post-detoxification phase of alcoholism has a greater impact on the aforementioned symptoms than a non-pharmacological approach.


METHODS
Social anxiety symptoms were assessed through the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) following a 4-5-week detoxification period in two groups: group A (n=21) that followed a detoxification protocol of cognitive-behavioral orientation and group B (n=33) that was assigned to mirtazapine in addition to the standard protocol. Concomitant psychopathology was monitored through the HARS and HDRS, and level of functioning through the GAS.


RESULTS
A marked reduction of social anxiety symptoms was evidenced in both groups. However, patients on mirtazapine improved significantly more compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
A single measure of social anxiety, i.e., the LSAS was used. Also, a longer follow-up period is needed to ascertain remission of social anxiety symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study found a rather high incidence of social anxiety symptoms in inpatient alcoholics which subsided following alcohol detoxification; moreover, it provides preliminary evidence that a combined psychotherapeutic/mirtazapine treatment (30-60 mg/daily) has a greater impact on the aforementioned symptoms than non-pharmacological treatment alone.
Liappas
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Ave., 11528 Athens, Greece.
Paparrigopoulos
T
T
Tzavellas
E
E
Christodoulou
G
G
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D015994:Incidence; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine