Effect of Short-Term Treatment of Moclobemide in Patients with Social Phobia: Preliminary Study

Lee, Seung Min; Lee, Keun Mun; Oh, Kang Seob; Wang, In Kyung

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Although there are a few studies reporting the efficacy of moclobemide in the treatment of social phobia, it has been poorly studied in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short term efficacy of moclobemide in Korean patients with social phobia. METHOD: Sixty six patients with social phobia based on DSM-IV criteria were enrolled to 4-week trial with a flexible-dose regime of moclobemide. Treatment responses were assessed at baseline and week 4 with Liebowits Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE), Mattick's Social Phobia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Sheehan's Disability Scale (SDS). RESULT: Thirty eight of 66 patients completed the 4-week trial. Scores of LSAS, BFNE, and Mattick's Social Phobia Scale at baseline were not significantly reduced after 4-week trial (p=0.084, p=0.537, p=0.283, p=0.111, respectively). But scores of BDI and 3 of 4 Sheehan's Disability Subscale at baseline were significantly reduced (p=0.026, p=0.000, p=0.005, p=0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Overall results of preliminary study showed that moclobemide could be used for the treatment of depression and functional impairment, but that it was not effective for treatment of anxiety and phobic avoidance of social phobic patients. More controlled, long-term studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of moclobemide for treatment of social phobia.