Cognitive behavior therapy  appears to be more effective than other evidence -based psychological techniques , and its effects appear to be more enduring than those of pharmacotherapy .
There is some evidence , albeit limited to certain drug classes , that the combination of  medication and cognitive behavior therapy may be more effective than either strategy used alone .
This article proposes a number of recommendations for the treatment of  generalized social phobia  , based on a systematic literature review and meta- analysis .
For medications , selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are first-line choices based on their efficacy and tolerability profiles .
There are other medication classes with demonstrated efficacy in social phobia ( benzodiazepines , antipsychotics , alpha-2-delta lig and s ) , but due to limited published clinical trial data and the potential for dependence and withdrawal issues with benzodiazepines , it is unclear how best to incorporate these drugs into treatment regimens .
Moclobemide and cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of social phobia. A six-month controlled study and 24 months follow up.
The aim of the study was to assess the 6-months treatment efficacy and 24-month follow up of three different therapeutic programs ( A. moclobemide and supportive guidance , B. group cognitive-behavioral therapy and pill placebo , and C. combination of moclobemide and group cognitive-behavioral therapy ) in patients with a generalized form of social phobia . Eighty one patients ( 38 males and 43 females ) were r and omly assigned to three different therapeutic programs . Patients were regularly assessed on a monthly basis by an independent rater on the LSAS ( Liebowitz Social Anxiety scale ) , CGI ( Clinical Global Impression ) for severity and change and BAI ( Beck Anxiety Inventory ) . Altogether , sixty-six patients completed the six month treatment period and 15 patients dropped out . All therapeutic groups showed significant improvement . A combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy yielded the most rapid effect . Moclobemide was superior for the reduction of the subjective general anxiety ( BAI ) during the first 3 months of treatment , but its influence on avoidant behavior ( LSAS avoidance subscale ) was less pronounced . Conversely , CBT was the best choice for reduction of avoidant behavior while a reduction of subjective general anxiety appeared later than in moclobemide . After 6 months of treatment there were best results reached in groups treated with CBT and there was no advantage of the combined treatment . The relapse rate during the 24-month follow up was significantly lower in the group treated with CBT in comparison with the group A. formerly treated with moclobemide alone
Cognitive behavior therapy  appears to be more effective than other evidence -based psychological techniques , and its effects appear to be more enduring than those of pharmacotherapy .
There is some evidence , albeit limited to certain drug classes , that the combination of  medication and cognitive behavior therapy may be more effective than either strategy used alone .
This article proposes a number of recommendations for the treatment of  generalized social phobia  , based on a systematic literature review and meta- analysis .
For medications , selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are first-line choices based on their efficacy and tolerability profiles .
There are other medication classes with demonstrated efficacy in social phobia ( benzodiazepines , antipsychotics , alpha-2-delta lig and s ) , but due to limited published clinical trial data and the potential for dependence and withdrawal issues with benzodiazepines , it is unclear how best to incorporate these drugs into treatment regimens .