Dan J Stein1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital (J-2), Anzio Rd., Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa. dan.stein@uct.ac.za
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in epidemiological surveys, concepts of social anxiety have varied from time to time and place to place. In recent years, however, similar assessments and treatments have been utilized across the world. METHODS: In this paper, current concepts of SAD in the West and the partially related condition known as taijin kyofusho (TKS) in the East are summarized, and trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that have been undertaken in both the United States/Europe and in Japan for social anxiety symptoms are reviewed. RESULTS: Despite differences in the conceptualization of SAD and TKS, social anxiety is a prevalent symptom in many parts of the world. Fluvoxamine is more effective than placebo in randomized controlled trials of SAD in the West and the East. CONCLUSIONS: Patients suffering from SAD in different parts of the world share many features in common, and certain SSRIs are an effective treatment for this condition globally.
BACKGROUND: Although social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in epidemiological surveys, concepts of social anxiety have varied from time to time and place to place. In recent years, however, similar assessments and treatments have been utilized across the world. METHODS: In this paper, current concepts of SAD in the West and the partially related condition known as taijin kyofusho (TKS) in the East are summarized, and trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that have been undertaken in both the United States/Europe and in Japan for social anxiety symptoms are reviewed. RESULTS: Despite differences in the conceptualization of SAD and TKS, social anxiety is a prevalent symptom in many parts of the world. Fluvoxamine is more effective than placebo in randomized controlled trials of SAD in the West and the East. CONCLUSIONS:Patients suffering from SAD in different parts of the world share many features in common, and certain SSRIs are an effective treatment for this condition globally.
Authors: Dan J Stein; Carmen C W Lim; Annelieke M Roest; Peter de Jonge; Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola; Ali Al-Hamzawi; Jordi Alonso; Corina Benjet; Evelyn J Bromet; Ronny Bruffaerts; Giovanni de Girolamo; Silvia Florescu; Oye Gureje; Josep Maria Haro; Meredith G Harris; Yanling He; Hristo Hinkov; Itsuko Horiguchi; Chiyi Hu; Aimee Karam; Elie G Karam; Sing Lee; Jean-Pierre Lepine; Fernando Navarro-Mateu; Beth-Ellen Pennell; Marina Piazza; Jose Posada-Villa; Margreet Ten Have; Yolanda Torres; Maria Carmen Viana; Bogdan Wojtyniak; Miguel Xavier; Ronald C Kessler; Kate M Scott Journal: BMC Med Date: 2017-07-31 Impact factor: 8.775