Korean Guidelines for the Pharmacological Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: Initial Treatment Strategies
- Author:
Hyungkun YOON
1
;
Dong Jae OH
;
Ho Suk SUH
;
Kyoung Uk LEE
;
Se Won LIM
;
Jun Yeob LEE
;
Jong Chul YANG
;
Jae Hon LEE
;
Juwon HA
;
Bun Hee LEE
;
Seung Gul KANG
;
Ho Kyoung YOON
;
Jihyun MOON
;
Seung Min BAE
;
Youngdo KWON
;
Hyun Chung KIM
;
Kang Seob OH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Social anxiety disorder; Guideline; Initial treatment; Pharmacotherapy
- MeSH: Antidepressive Agents; Anxiety Disorders; Anxiety; Benzodiazepines; Citalopram; Consensus; Drug Therapy; Korea; Paroxetine; Propranolol; Psychotropic Drugs; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors; Sertraline; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2018;15(2):147-155
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- 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.
