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Fluvoxamine for phobia of storms
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|September 24, 1999
Summary
Disabling specific phobias, like storm phobia, may be treated with fluvoxamine when behavioral therapy isn't feasible. This selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor shows promise for severe phobia cases.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Specific phobias are typically managed with behavioral therapy when disabling.
- Pharmacotherapy is generally not considered effective for specific phobias.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) show efficacy in various anxiety disorders.
Observation:
- A case report details the treatment of storm phobia in an 11-year-old boy.
- The patient's phobia of storms was successfully treated with fluvoxamine.
- This suggests a potential role for SSRIs in managing specific phobias.
Findings:
- Fluvoxamine, an SSRI, demonstrated effectiveness in treating a disabling specific phobia (storm phobia).
- This case challenges the conventional view of pharmacotherapy's limited role in specific phobias.
- Successful treatment was achieved in a pediatric patient.
Implications:
- Fluvoxamine and other SSRIs may be a viable treatment option for severe specific phobias.
- This approach is particularly relevant when behavioral therapy is not practical or feasible.
- Further research into SSRI efficacy for specific phobias is warranted.