title: Escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder: randomised, placebo-controlled, flexible-dosage study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective in the treatment of social anxiety disorder and are currently regarded as the pharmacotherapy of choice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram in the treatment of generalised social anxiety disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with generalised social anxiety disorder were randomised to receive placebo (n=177) or 10-20 mg escitalopram (n=181) in a 12-week, double-blind trial. The primary outcome measure was the mean change from baseline to last assessment in the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) total score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed a statistically superior therapeutic effect for escitalopram compared with placebo on the LSAS total score (P=0.005). There were significantly more responders to treatment for escitalopram than for placebo (54% v. 39%; P<0.01). The clinical relevance of these findings was supported by significant reduction in the work and social components of the Sheehan Disability Scale and by the good tolerability of escitalopram treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Escitalopram was efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of generalised social anxiety disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychiatry, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. sci-genpsy@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Dan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loft
authors.forename: Rico
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015283:Citalopram / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors