SERTRALINE FOR SOCIAL PHOBIA - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED CROSSOVER STUDY

Objective: The authors examined the efficacy of sertraline in the trea tment of social phobia. Method: In a double-blind crossover study, 12 outpatients were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of sertraline (50-200 m g/day, flexible dosing) and 10 weeks of placebo. Results: A statistica lly significant improvement in scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale was found with sertraline but not with placebo. There was no sig nificant difference between scores obtained with computer- and clinici an-administered versions of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and th e majority of patients preferred to be interviewed by the computer. Co nclusions: Sertraline seems a safe and effective treatment for social phobia, and computer administration may be a preferable mode of assess ment with socially phobic patients.