Role of Newer Antidepressants in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

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Activity Dates: 05/10/2021 - 04/20/2024

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Target Audience

This course is designed for pharmacists, nurse practitioners or other health care professionals involved in the comprehensive medication management of psychiatric and/or neurological patients.

Session Summary

Anxiety disorders are among the most frequent mental disorders encountered in clinical practice and are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Frequently healthcare professionals misdiagnose anxiety disorders for physical illnesses, and less than one-third of patients receive appropriate treatment. Failure to diagnose and appropriately manage anxiety disorders results in overuse of healthcare resources and increased risk for suicide and substance abuse. Individuals with anxiety disorders develop cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, gastrointestinal (GI), and respiratory disorders at a significantly higher rate than the general population. With up to 33.7% of the population affected by an anxiety disorder during their lifetime, anxiety disorders are the most commonly occurring psychiatric disorder. The 1-year prevalence rate for anxiety disorders is 21.3% in persons aged 18 years and older, and the 1-year prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) specifically is 8.0%.

First-line agents for the treatment of SAD include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, specifically escitalopram, fluvoxamine controlled-release, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine extended-release. Only a few studies analyzing the use of newer antidepressants such as vilazodone, levomilnacipran, and vortioxetine have been published. Careri et. al. conducted a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose trial of vilazodone in the treatment of generalized SAD. They found the intent-to-treat vilazodone group had improved scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) compared with the placebo group. Liebowitz et al. completed a study comparing vortioxetine versus placebo in major depressive disorder (MDD) comorbid with SAD. They found the composite result of Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) responder rate was not significant amongst the two groups, but vortioxetine-treated patients showed a significantly greater improvement than those on placebo on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the LSAS. None of the newer antidepressants are FDA-approved for the treatment of SAD. In addition, a literature search on the topic revealed only a few clinical trials evaluating newer antidepressants for the treatment of SAD.

Course Requirements

You will proceed through the following steps to satisfactorily complete this course:

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  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the post-test at the end of the activity no later than the closing activity date.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • If necessary, complete the post-test retest no later than the closing activity date.
  • Receive a passing grade (70%).
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Upon successful completion, ACPE credit is reported within 24 hours to CPE Monitor although transcripts can be retrieved by participants online in their ACPE Transcript.

Faculty Information

Sarah T. Melton, PharmD, BCPP, BCACP, FASCP

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Learning Objectives

  1. Evaluate a patient for social anxiety disorder using validated screening tools.
  2. Compare the efficacy and/or adverse effects of current treatment options for social anxiety disorder.
  3. Assess the role of newer antidepressants in the treatment of social anxiety disorder.
  4. Develop a pharmacologic treatment plan for the management of social anxiety disorder.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 05/10/2021 - 04/20/2024
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-21-005-H01-P (Application)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

ACPEThe College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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