Non-Antidepressant Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: A Review

Abstract

Social anxiety disorder is a debilitating mental illness with eventually serious comorbidities such as major depression and alcohol or substance abuse and dependence. Those comorbidities are much more common when social phobia is left neglected and untreated. It is characterized by excessive fears to one or most social situations (circumscribed versus generalized type). Social phobia has its onset typically in childhood or early adolescence and it is associated with significant functional impairment. Although cognitive behavioral therapy and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are considered the mainstay treatment of this disorder, other psychotropic agents can be of value in the management of this condition. This review discusses the efficacy of beta-bockers, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, D-cycloserine, buspirone and atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of social anxiety disorder.

Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders

“…CBT package (ie, psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and exposure) with an additional social skills training module may be particularly effi cacious (Halaby et al 2013 ;Hidalgo et al 2001 ). CBT group therapy for social anxiety is also well established (Jorstad-Stein and Heimberg 2009 ).…”

All eyes on me? Role of Negative Parenting in the Development of Social Anxiety Disorder among Children and Adolescents

“…If left untreated, SAD is associated with the subsequent development of major depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems [3]. SAD also can be associated with functional disability, low health-related quality of life, and economic burden [4]. In addition, relationship between the social and generalized anxiety symptoms and alcohol and cigarette use in adolescence is well documented [5].…”