A prospective study of 86 new patients with social anxiety disorder

Objective: To determine the prognosis in 86 new patients with social anxiet y disorder. Method: Untreated subjects with social anxiety were recruited by advertisin g in Stockholm, randomized to 3 months treatment with paroxetine or placebo , and then offered continued specialist care. Metabolizing capacity was det ermined by genotyping CYP2D6 in the subjects on paroxetine. After a mean 32 months all were contacted for a personal interview. Results: Of the 92 evaluable subjects, 86 (93%) were interviewed. A favoura ble prognosis was seen in the subjects randomized to paroxetine who chose t o continue with serotonergic medication. The least favourable prognosis was in those given placebo who chose not to be treated after the trial. Twenty -four subjects were still symptomatic and dysfunctional and had not sought treatment. Drug-induced adverse effects caused treatment termination in six subjects, one of whom had a poor metabolizing genotype. Conclusion: Due to their condition, some subjects with social anxiety refra in from effective treatments. The efficacy of serotonergic medication was m aintained and augmented after a mean period of 32 months.