TY - JOUR
T1 - The efficacy of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
T2 - A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
AU - Van der Linden, G. J.H.
AU - Stein, D. J.
AU - Van Balkom, A. J.L.M.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - This article reviews all available studies on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder. Using the search methods laid out by the Cochrane Collaboration, 25 published reports of SSRI effectiveness for social anxiety disorder were identified, of which eight were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs). The odds ratios of responder status ('much improved' or 'very much improved' on the Clinical Global Impression Scale) for SSRI versus placebo varied between 2.1 and 26.2. In no RCT was the lower confidence limit less than 1. The number needed to treat varied from 1.6 to 4.2. The number of patients who responded to drug was approximately twice the number who responded to placebo. Comparing the change in mean Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale score in patients treated with drug versus those treated with placebo, the effect sizes of the RCTs varied from 0.3 to 2.2. In four RCTs the effect size was 'large', in one 'moderate' and in two 'small'. Furthermore, response rates and effect sizes for SSRIs were larger than those seen in trials of the reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (RIMAs). It may be concluded with a high degree of confidence that SSRI treatment for social anxiety disorder is effective, both in reducing total levels of social anxiety and in improving patients' overall clinical condition. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
AB - This article reviews all available studies on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder. Using the search methods laid out by the Cochrane Collaboration, 25 published reports of SSRI effectiveness for social anxiety disorder were identified, of which eight were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs). The odds ratios of responder status ('much improved' or 'very much improved' on the Clinical Global Impression Scale) for SSRI versus placebo varied between 2.1 and 26.2. In no RCT was the lower confidence limit less than 1. The number needed to treat varied from 1.6 to 4.2. The number of patients who responded to drug was approximately twice the number who responded to placebo. Comparing the change in mean Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale score in patients treated with drug versus those treated with placebo, the effect sizes of the RCTs varied from 0.3 to 2.2. In four RCTs the effect size was 'large', in one 'moderate' and in two 'small'. Furthermore, response rates and effect sizes for SSRIs were larger than those seen in trials of the reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (RIMAs). It may be concluded with a high degree of confidence that SSRI treatment for social anxiety disorder is effective, both in reducing total levels of social anxiety and in improving patients' overall clinical condition. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
KW - Cochrane
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - SSRIs
KW - Social anxiety disorder
KW - Social phobia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033736350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/00004850-200008002-00004
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/00004850-200008002-00004
M3 - Article
C2 - 11110015
SN - 0268-1315
VL - 15
SP - S15-S23
JO - International Clinical Psychopharmacology
JF - International Clinical Psychopharmacology
IS - SUPPL. 2
ER -