Venlafaxine in social phobia: a study
in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor non-responders
Altamura AC, Pioli R, Vitto M, Mannu P
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Milan,
Istituto Scienze Biomediche, Italy.
Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1999 Jul; 14(4):239-45
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to evaluate the clinical
response to venlafaxine in social phobia in 12 patients who were
non-responders to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and to assess how
the response could be influenced by the comorbidity in Axis II with avoidant
personality disorder (APD). The duration of the study was of 15 weeks using
open flexible doses regimen in individuals with or without concomitant APD.
The venlafaxine dose ranged from 112.5 mg/day to 187.5 mg/day.
Venlafaxine improves social phobia and/or APD symptomatology, as
demonstrated by decreasing Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale total scores (P
< 0.05). In fact, venlafaxine significantly reduced the avoidant
behaviour and specific sociophobic aspects, while notably improving the
depression dimension and the basic anxiety symptoms. With regard to
tolerability, the profile of venlafaxine was satisfactory with the main
side-effects being nausea, headache and anxiety
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