Effect of quetiapine vs. placebo on response to two virtual public speaking exposures in individuals with social phobia.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical practice and open-label studies suggest that quetiapine (an atypical anti-psychotic) might improve symptoms for individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD). The purpose of this study was to provide a rigorous test of the acute impact of a single dose of quetiapine (25mg) on SAD symptoms.


METHODS
Individuals with SAD (N=20) were exposed to a 4-min virtual reality (VR) public speaking challenge after having received quetiapine or placebo (double-blind) 1h earlier. A parallel VR challenge occurred 1 week later using a counter-balanced cross-over (within subject) design for the medication-placebo order between the two sessions.


RESULTS
There was no significant drug effect for quetiapine on the primary outcome measures. However, quetiapine was associated with significantly elevated heart rate and sleepiness compared with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Study findings suggest that a single dose of 25mg quetiapine is not effective in alleviating SAD symptoms in individuals with fears of public speaking.
Donahue
Christopher B
CB
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, USA.
Kushner
Matt G
MG
Thuras
Paul D
PD
Murphy
Tom G
TG
Van Demark
Joani B
JB
Adson
David E
DE
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013060:Speech; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate