Improving Outcomes in Pharmacotherapy of Social Phobia Research Study

Description: This research study will compare how useful three different drugs are for treating individuals with social anxiety disorder. Each of the three medications used in this research study are currently marketed for anxiety and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of anxiety.

The study is a two-stage, 23-week research study. In stage one of the research study all subjects receive sertraline for 10 weeks. Subjects who remain socially anxious after 10 weeks will enter stage two of the research study, in which they 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. Subjects whose symptoms of social anxiety decrease after the first 10 weeks of the research study will continue to take sertraline for the remaining 12 weeks of the study.

Inclusion Criteria: In order to participate in this research study, individuals must be 18 years or older with a primary diagnosis of generalized social anxiety disorder. Individuals with a history of schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder are not eligible to participate in this study. In addition, individuals with severe and/or uncontrolled medical problems, and individuals taking other psychiatric medications are not eligible.