The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
No Access

Sertraline for social phobia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.152.9.1368

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of social phobia. METHOD: In a double-blind crossover study, 12 outpatients were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of sertraline (50-200 mg/day, flexible dosing) and 10 weeks of placebo. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement in scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale was found with sertraline but not with placebo. There was no significant difference between scores obtained with computer- and clinician-administered versions of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and the majority of patients preferred to be interviewed by the computer. CONCLUSIONS: Sertraline seems a safe and effective treatment for social phobia, and computer administration may be a preferable mode of assessment with socially phobic patients.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.