Table 2.
Characteristics of trials included for efficacy
| Trial (author, year) | Drug | Mean Dose (mg) |
Sample Size |
Mean Age (years) |
Percent Female |
Duration (weeks) |
Mean Baseline LSAS |
Statistically Significant Differences* |
Quality Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lader et al., 2004 | Escitalopram | 20 | 505** | 37 | 52 | 24 | 94 | LSAS, CGI-I, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Kasper et al., 2005 | Escitalopram | 18 | 358 | 38 | 46 | 12 | 96 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, S) |
Fair |
| Kobak et al., 2001 | Fluoxetine | 44 | 60 | 39 | 58 | 14 | 82 | None | Fair |
| Stein et al., 1999 | Fluvoxamine | 202 | 92 | 39 | 36 | 12 | 80 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F) |
Fair |
| Davidson et al., 2004 | Fluvoxamine CR | 174 | 279 | 37 | 36 | 12 | 90 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Westenberg et al., 2004 | Fluvoxamine CR | 209 | 300 | 38 | 52 | 12 | 97 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W) |
Fair |
| Lader et al., 2004 | Paroxetine | 20 | 505** | 37 | 52 | 24 | 94 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, S) |
Fair |
| Stein et al., 1998 | Paroxetine | 37 | 187 | 36 | 57 | 12 | 81 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, S) |
Fair |
| Allgulander 1999 | Paroxetine | 20–50 | 92 | 39 | 48 | 12 | 74 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Allgulander et al., 2004 | Paroxetine | 44 | 389** | 39 | 53 | 12 | 84 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Liebowitz et al., 2005 | Paroxetine | 46 | 440** | 36 | 46 | 12 | 86 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Wagner et al., 2004 | Paroxetine | 33 | 322 | 13 | 50 | 16 | 78 | LSAS, CGI | Good |
| Baldwin et al., 1999 | Paroxetine | 35 | 323 | 36 | 54 | 12 | 87 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Lepola et al., 2004 | Paroxetine CR | 32 | 375 | 39 | 50 | 12 | 78 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Van Ameringen et al., 2001 | Sertraline | 147 | 204 | 36 | 44 | 20 | NR | CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Liebowitz et al., 2003 | Sertraline | 159 | 415 | 35 | 40 | 12 | 92 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Blomhoff et al., 2001 | Sertraline | 126 | 175 | 40 | 60 | 24 | NR | SDS (W, S) | Fair |
| Allgulander et al., 2004 | Venlafaxine ER | 192 | 389** | 39 | 53 | 12 | 84 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Stein et al., 2005 | Venlafaxine ER | 214 | 395 | 37 | 39 | 24 | 89 | LSAS, CGI SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
| Rickels et al., 2004 | Venlafaxine ER | 152–178 | 261 | 41 | 42 | 12 | 89 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, S) |
Fair |
| Liebowitz et al., 2005 | Venlafaxine ER | 202 | 440** | 36 | 46 | 12 | 86 | LSAS, CGI, SDS (W, F, S) |
Fair |
*
P < 0.05 for comparison with placebo
**
Head-to-head trial; placebo sample size was halved for each comparison with active treatment LSAS = Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale; CGI-I = Clinical Global Impression of Improvement; SDS = Sheehan Disability Scale; SDS(W) = Work subscale; SDS(F) = Family subscale; SDS(S) = Social subscale; NR = not reported