Psychiatry Investig.  2012 Mar;9(1):73-79.

Comparison of Treatment Adherence between Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Moclobemide in Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder

• Lim SW
• Kwon YS
• Ha J
• Yoon HG
• Bae SM
• Shin DW
• Shin YC
• Oh KS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
With respect to the pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder (SAD), it has been suggested that treatment duration is an important factor that can significantly predict responses. The present study aimed to compare the treatment adherence of SAD patients who were taking either SSRIs or reversible inhibitors of MAO-A (moclobemide) by measuring treatment duration and all-cause discontinuation rates of pharmacotherapy in a natural clinical setting.
METHODS
We retrospectively analysed the data of 172 patients diagnosed with SAD. Depending on their medication, we divided the patients into two groups, SSRI (n=54) or moclobemide (n=118). The expected number of all-cause discontinuation every 2 weeks after starting treatment was calculated by life table survival methods. A multi-variable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to analyze the potential influence of explanatory variables.
RESULTS
Treatment duration was significantly longer in the SSRI group [46.41+/-56.96, median=12.0 (weeks)] than in the moclobemide group [25.53+/-34.74, median=12.0 (weeks), Z=2.352, p=0.019]. Overall, all-cause discontinuation rates were significantly lower with SSRIs (81%) than moclobemide (96%, chi2=4.532, p=0.033).
CONCLUSION
The SSRI group had a longer treatment duration and lower all-cause discontinuation rate than moclobemide. Further, only the type of medication had a significant effect on all-cause discontinuation rates and therefore, we could predict better treatment adherence with the SSRIs in the treatment of SAD.

Keyword

Social anxiety disorder; SSRI; Moclobemide; Treatment adherence; All-cause discontinuation

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Humans
Life Tables
Moclobemide
Monoamine Oxidase
Retrospective Studies
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
Moclobemide
Monoamine Oxidase
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors