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Paroxetine augmentation in patients with generalised social anxiety disorder, non‐responsive to mirtazapine or placebo
Author(s) -
Schutters Sara I. J.,
van Megen Harold J. G. M.,
Van Veen J. Frederieke,
Schruers Koen R. J.,
Westenberg Herman G. M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.1165
Subject(s) - paroxetine , mirtazapine , placebo , social anxiety , psychology , psychiatry , clinical global impression , anxiety , medicine , antidepressant , alternative medicine , pathology
Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate if combination of mirtazapine with paroxetine causes a greater therapeutic effect and less sexual side effects than paroxetine monotherapy in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Methods Twenty one patients with generalised SAD, non‐responsive to a 12 week trial with mirtazapine and 22 patients, non‐responsive to placebo received paroxetine (20–40 mg) in addition to their double‐blind treatment with mirtazapine or placebo for another 12 weeks. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and the Clinical Global Impression‐Improvement (CGI‐I) scale were used to measure efficacy. Sexual functioning was assessed by the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX). Results Both treatments showed a significant LSAS reduction and their response rates (based on LSAS reduction ≥ 40% and CGI‐I ≤ 2) were similar (paroxetine and mirtazapine: 52.4%, paroxetine and placebo: 59.1%). Sexual dysfunction (based on ASEX ≥ 19) was found in half of patients treated with paroxetine and placebo, and in 38% of patients treated with paroxetine and mirtazapine. Conclusion The present study did not find support for a greater efficacy of combination pharmacotherapy in SAD, however results suggest that combination of paroxetine with mirtazapine might cause less sexual dysfunction than treatment with paroxetine alone. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.