title: Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics, safety and clinical efficacy of sertraline used to treat social anxiety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is an emerging, often invalidating, syndrome with deep personal, social and psychological implications. While multiple treatment strategies exist, presently none of them can be considered superior to all others.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this review is to provide the latest information on sertraline (SRT), one of the most important selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) currently used for the pharmacological therapy of SAD. A literature search was carried out with the keywords 'sertraline', 'social anxiety', 'social phobia' and 'clinical trials'. In this process, particular attention is paid to the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the drug and its safety in clinical use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SRT is an effective drug in the treatment of SAD, especially when used in combination with some form of psychological support. While it does not seem to be significantly more effective than other SSRIs, SRT could offer some peculiar advantages: for example, it has a long half-life, allowing a single daily administration, and seems to be particularly indicated for the control of specific symptoms of SAD.
authors.affiliation: Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Department for Life Quality Studies (QuVi) , Corso D'Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini , Italy +39 054 143 4624 ; +39 051 209 9740 ; roberto.mandrioli@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mandrioli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mercolini
authors.forename: Maria Augusta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Raggi
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D020280:Sertraline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline