New uses for antidepressants: social phobia.

Data from recent epidemiologic surveys of community populations indicate that social phobia is a common psychiatric disorder and is associated with substantial functional impairment in a number of patients. Social phobia is also often comorbid with major depression, substance use disorders, and other anxiety disorders. Fortunately, a variety of antidepressant medications have been reported to alleviate the symptoms of social phobia. Controlled studies have shown substantial efficacy for the monoamine oxidase inhibitors phenelzine, moclobemide, and brofaromine and the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors fluvoxamine and sertraline. Other serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine have shown promise in case reports and open trials.