Psychiatry Investig.  2018 Feb;15(2):147-155. 10.30773/pi.2017.05.01.

Korean Guidelines for the Pharmacological Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: Initial Treatment Strategies

• Yoon H
• Oh DJ
• Suh HS
• Lee KU
• Lim SW
• Lee JY
• Yang JC
• Lee JH
• Ha J
• Lee BH
• Kang SG
• Yoon HK
• Moon J
• Bae SM
• Kwon Y
• Kim HC
• Oh KS

• KMID: 2409423
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2017.05.01

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to provide clinical consensus and evidence regarding initial treatment strategies for the pharmacological treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in Korea.
METHODS
We prepared a questionnaire to derive a consensus from clinicians regarding their preference for the pharmacological treatment of SAD in Korea. Data regarding medication regimens and psychotropic drugs used during initial treatment, the doses used, and the pharmacological treatment duration were obtained. Responses were obtained from 66 SAD experts, and their opinions were classified into three categories (first-line, second-line, third-line) using a chi-square analysis.
RESULTS
Clinicians agreed upon first-line regimens for SAD involving monotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine, or combined therapy using antidepressants with betablockers or benzodiazepines on a standing or as-needed basis. First-line psychotropic drug choices for initial treatment included the following: escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, and propranolol. The medication dosage used by domestic clinicians was found to be comparable with foreign guidelines. Domestic clinicians tended to make treatment decisions in a shorter amount of time and preferred a similar duration of maintenance treatment for SAD when compared with foreign clinicians.
CONCLUSION
This study may provide significant information for developing SAD pharmacotherapy guidelines in Korea, especially in the early stage of treatment.

Keyword

Social anxiety disorder; Guideline; Initial treatment; Pharmacotherapy

MeSH Terms

Antidepressive Agents
Anxiety Disorders*
Anxiety*
Benzodiazepines
Citalopram
Consensus
Drug Therapy
Korea
Paroxetine
Propranolol
Psychotropic Drugs
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
Sertraline
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
Antidepressive Agents
Benzodiazepines
Citalopram
Paroxetine
Propranolol
Psychotropic Drugs
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
Sertraline
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride