Improving Outcomes in Pharmacotherapy of Social Phobia
Posting Date: 5/24/2006
Study Contact: call 1-866-44-WORRY or send email to anxietystudy@partners.org

Description: This study will compare the usefulness of three different medication strategies for treating individuals with social anxiety disorder who have not responded well to an established treatment (i.e., the medication sertraline, also known as Zoloft ®). Each of these 3 medication strategies involve taking a medication that is currently marketed for anxiety and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale for the treatment of anxiety. The study is a two phase, 23-week research study in which subjects who remain symptomatic at the end of one phase enter into the next. In Phase I, all subjects receive sertraline (Zoloft ®) for 10 weeks. Subjects who remain symptomatic will enter Phase II, in which subjects will be randomly assigned (there will be a one-in-three chance of being assigned to each group) to either keep taking sertraline, switch to taking sertraline and clonazepam, or switch to taking only venlafaxine extended-release for the remaining 12 weeks of the study. At th end of the study, you will enter follow-up care with the study doctor.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients age 18 or older with a primary diagnosis of generalized social anxiety disorder. Patients with a history of schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, mental disorder due to a medical condition or substance, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder are excluded. In addition, patients with severe and/or uncontrolled medical problems, and patients taking other psychotrophic medications are excluded.

Duloxetine for Social Anxiety Disorder: Prediction of Long Term Outcome
Posting Date: 08/26/2005
Study Contact: call 1-866-44-WORRY or send email to anxietystudy@partners.org

Description: This is a two phase, 24-week research study in which participants who remain symptomatic at the end of one phase (6 weeks) enter into the next phase. In Phase I, all participants receive duloxetine (Cymbalta) for 6 weeks. Participants who continue to have anxiety symptoms will enter the 18-week Phase II, in which they continue taking Cymbalta and they will also be randomly assigned (by chance, like a flip of a coin) to receive either an increased dose of Cymbalta or placebo (contains no active medication).

Inclusion Criteria: People who are over the age of 18, who are experiencing symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder, and who are not currently taking another psychiatric medication may be eligible for this study. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who are not on an approved form of contraception will not be eligible. People with a history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic conditions are excluded. People with severe and/or uncontrolled medical problems or glaucoma are excluded.