This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing fluoxetine, CBT, or a combination of both, in the treatment of generalized social phobia.
Over 14 weeks of treatment, the response rates for people receiving the various treatments were:
- Fluoxetine: 50.9%
- CBT: 51.7%
- CBT plus fluoxetine: 54.2%
- CBT plus placebo: 50.8%
- Placebo: 31.7%
Whilst all the active treatments studied performed significantly better than placebo, the combined treatment did not yield any further significant advantage.
CBT=cognitive–behavioural therapy; CCBT=comprehensive cognitive behavioural therapy; FLU=fluoxetine; PBO=placebo
Related content
This line graph illustrates how the number of specific phobia types changes over time.
Graph using NCS‑R data from 9,282 adults showing mostly positive, significant correlations between DSM‑IV mental disorders.
Fear and anxiety are experienced on a spectrum, stretching from basic ‘normal’ emotions to the categorical phenotypes of anxiety disorders.