Serotonergic agents in the treatment of social phobia in children and adolescents: A case series

Serotonergic agents have become the tr treatment of choice for adult patien ts with social phobia, However, there are few reports of the use of these a gents in the treatment of children and adolescents with this disorder. The pharmacological treatment of social anxiety in children and adolescents is briefly reviewed and a consecutive series of child and adolescent patients who were treated with a variety of serotonin acting agents is described Sev en patients, aged 7 to 18 years, with a Primary DSM-IV diagnosis of general ized social phobia were treated with paroxetine, sertraline, or nefazodone for up to 7 months, Response to treatment was evaluated by retrospective ch art review by the treating clinicians. All of the patients appeared to have a very positive clinical response to the serotonergic agents, No adverse e vents were reported and side effects were well tolerated Results suggest th at serotonergic agents may be an effective and safe treatment for children and adolescents with social phobia. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.