Effect of an Acute Intranasal Aerosol Dose of PH94B on Social and Performance Anxiety in Women With Social Anxiety Disorder

Objective

Although social anxiety disorder is a common and sometimes disabling condition, there are no approved treatments that can be used on an as-needed basis. The authors examined the acute use of PH94B, an intranasally administered neurosteroidal aerosol, for the acute management of the symptoms of social anxiety disorder.

Method

The authors conducted a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose study of PH94B. Ninety-one women 19–60 years of age with generalized social anxiety disorder received placebo intranasal spray (single-blind) 15 minutes before laboratory-simulated public speaking and social interaction challenges. Patients who experienced significant distress during at least one challenge returned 1 week later to receive either intranasal PH94B or placebo aerosol spray (double-blind) before repeat challenges.

Results

Patients who received PH94B during the second set of challenges had a significantly greater decrease in mean Subjective Units of Distress scores during the public speaking and social interaction challenges compared with the first set of challenges, than did patients who received placebo for both sets of challenges. A significantly greater proportion of the PH94B group were much or very much improved from the first to the second sets of challenges compared with the placebo group (75% and 37%, respectively). The side effects of PH94B were benign.

Conclusions

PH94B may be a novel, effective, and well-tolerated acute treatment for performance and social anxiety in women with social anxiety disorder.