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 .
Efficacy of the Novel Anxiolytic Pregabalin in Social Anxiety Disorder: A Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study
Abstract : Pregabalin is a novel compound in the development for the treatment of  anxiety disorders .  The safety and efficacy of pregabalin for the treatment of social anxiety disorder  was evaluated in a double-blind , multicenter clinical trial in which 135 patients were r and omized to 10 weeks of double-blind treatment with either pregabalin 150 mg/d , pregabalin 600 mg/d , or placebo . The primary efficacy parameter was change from baseline to end point in the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale ( LSAS ) total score . Safety was assessed through clinical and laboratory monitoring , and recording spontaneously reported adverse events . Ninety-four patients ( 70 % ) completed the 11-week double-blind treatment phase . LSAS total score was significantly decreased by pregabalin 600 mg/d treatment compared with placebo ( P = 0.024 , analysis of covariance ) . Significant differences ( P ≤ 0.05 ) between pregabalin 600 mg/d and placebo were seen on several secondary measures including the LSAS subscales of total fear , total avoidance , social fear , and social avoidance , and the Brief Social Phobia Scale fear subscale . Pregabalin 150 mg/d was not significantly better than placebo on any measures . Somnolence and dizziness were the most frequently occurring adverse events among patients receiving pregabalin 600 mg/d . In conclusion , pregabalin 600 mg/d was an effective and well-tolerated treatment of social anxiety disorder
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 .