Social anxiety disorder mechanisms

Gabapentin acts by increasing GABA activity, although its exact mechanism of action is unclear. It causes dose-related sedation and dizziness. It has been shown in randomised controlled trials to be effective in social anxiety disorder (Pande et al. 1999) and to benefit some patients with panic disorder (Pande et al. 2000). Pregabalin is a related compovmd that has recently demonstrated efficacy in GAD in a phase III study (Pande et al. 2003). 

Nutt DJ, Bell CJ, Malizia AL. Brain mechanisms of social anxiety disorder. J din Psychiatry 1998 59(17) 4-9. 

Several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline (Fig. 22.21), are effective as first-line treatment cf seme anxiety disorders, with the purported advantage that they lack the addictive preperties cf benzediazepines (135). Specifically, the SSRIs have been shown to be effective in obsessive-ccmpulsive diserder (139), panic disorder (140), and social phobia (141). The mechanism of action of these agents in anxiety may differ with their role in the treatment of depression however,... 

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