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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2001) 179: 23-30
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Randomised controlled general practice trial of sertraline, exposure therapy and combined treatment in generalised social phobia

SVEIN BLOMHOFF, MD

Department of Psychosomatic and Behavioural Medicine, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway

TONE TANGEN HAUG, MD

Department of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

KERSTIN HELLSTRÖM, DMedSc

Department of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Ulleraaker University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

INGAR HOLME, PhD

Life Insurance Companies Institute for Medical Statistics, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

MATS HUMBLE, MD

Department of Psychiatry, Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

HANS PETTER MADSBU, MD

Elverum Medical Center, Elverum, Norway

JAN EGIL WOLD, MD

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Innherred Hospital, Levanger, Norway

Correspondence: Svein Blomhoff, Department of Psychosomatic and Behavioural Medicine, National Hospital, N-0027 Oslo, Norway

Declaration of interest Funding was obtained from Pfizer Inc.

Background No controlled trial of treatment of generalised social phobia has been conducted in general practice.

Aims To examine the efficacy of sertraline or exposure therapy, administered alone or in combination in this setting.

Method Study was of a randomised, double-blind design. Patients (n = 387) received sertraline 50-150 mg or placebo for 24 weeks. Patients were additionally randomised to exposure therapy or general medical care.

Results Sertraline-treated patients were significantly more improved than non-sertraline-treated patients ({chi}2=12.53, P<0.001; odds ratio=0.534; 95% Cl 0.347-0.835). No significant difference was observed between exposure- and non-exposure-treated patients ({chi}2=2.18, P=0.140; odds ratio=0.732; 95% Cl 0.475-1.134). In the pairwise comparisons, combined sertraline and exposure ({chi}2=12.32; P<0.001) and sertraline ({chi}2=10.13; P=0.002) were significantly superior to placebo.

Conclusions Sertraline is an effective treatment for generalised social phobia. Combined treatment with sertraline and exposure therapy, conducted by the general practitioner, may enhance the treatment efficacy in primary care.




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