Escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder

Randomised, placebo-controlled, flexible-dosage study

KASPER, SIEGFRIED
STEIN, DAN J.
LOFT, HENRIK
NIL, RICO

SIEGFRIED KASPER, MD, FRCP, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; DAN J. STEIN, PhD, FRCP, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; HENRIK LOFT, PhD, H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark; RICO NIL, PD, Dr.sc.nat., ETH, Lundbeck (Switzerland) Ltd, Glattbrugg, Switzerland

Correspondence: Professor Siegfried Kasper, Department of General Psychiatry, University of Vienna, Währinger Gür tel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Tel: +431 40400 3568; fax: +431 40400 3099; e-mail: [email protected]

(First received 21 January 2004, final revision 16 September 2004, accepted 29 September, 2004)

British Journal of Psychiatry 186:p 222-226, March 2005.

Background

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective in the treatment of social anxiety disorder and are currently regarded as the pharmacotherapy of choice.

Aims

To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram in the treatment of generalised social anxiety disorder.

Method

Patients with generalised social anxiety disorder were randomised to receive placebo (n=177) or 10-20 mg escitalopram (n=181) in a 12-week, double-blind trial. The primary outcome measure was the mean change from baseline to last assessment in the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) total score.

Results

The study showed a statistically superior therapeutic effect for escitalopram compared with placebo on the LSAS total score (P=0.005). There were significantly more responders to treatment for escitalopram than for placebo (54% v. 39%; P < 0.01). The clinical relevance of these findings was supported by significant reduction in the work and social components of the Sheehan Disability Scale and by the good tolerability of escitalopram treatment.

Conclusions

Escitalopram was efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of generalised social anxiety disorder.

Declaration of interest

The study was sponsored by H. Lundbeck A/S. Other funding detailed in Acknowledgements.