Pharmacotherapy of Social Phobia

Overview

The author presents basic information on the epidemiology of social phobia.Apparently a not negligible part of the population, some 4 - 16%, suffer fromthis disorder. In the subsequent part the author submits basic informationon the biological background followed by up-to-date information on pharma-cotherapeutic possibilities. The main emphasis ins laid on information onantidepressants of the IMAO/RIMA type and SSRI. The text is supplementedby summarizing tables. The author mentions also benzodiazepines, tricyclicantidepressants and other psychopharmaceutical preparations. Initial workon nefazodone and venlafaxine in this indication is also quoted. In the con-clusion a table will be found summarizing therapeutic possibilities of socialphobia and other anxiety disorders.

Key words:
social phobia, psychopharmacotherapy, antidepressantsIMAO/RIMA, SSRI.