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Hyperhidrosis in social anxiety disorder.
Jonathan R T Davidson1, Edna B Foa, Kathryn M Connor
1Duke University Medical Center, Trent Drive, 4th Floor, Yellow Zone, Room 4082B, Box 3812, Durham, NC 27710, USA. jonathan.davidson@duke.edu
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|December 28, 2002
Summary
Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). While treatments can reduce sweating, only fluoxetine showed significant improvement over placebo, indicating variable treatment responses for this symptom.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Dermatology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Hyperhidrosis is a frequently overlooked yet disabling symptom.
- It is commonly associated with social anxiety disorder (SAD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence and characteristics of hyperhidrosis in SAD patients.
- To compare the efficacy of fluoxetine, cognitive behavior therapy, clonazepam, and gabapentin against placebo for hyperhidrosis.
- To determine if baseline sweating severity predicts treatment outcomes in SAD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of data from placebo-controlled clinical trials involving 375 SAD patients.
- Utilized the Brief Social Phobia Scale (BSPS) and Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) to assess sweating and related symptoms.
- ANCOVA was employed to analyze treatment effects on sweating severity.
Main Results:
- Hyperhidrosis was present in 24.8-32.3% of subjects and correlated with increased disability and fear.
- Overall treatment reduced hyperhidrosis rates from 23.7% to 9.7% (BSPS) and 34.0% to 15.5% (SPIN).
- Fluoxetine demonstrated a significant reduction in sweating compared to placebo; gabapentin showed a difference on the SPIN scale.
Conclusions:
- Hyperhidrosis is a common comorbidity in SAD with varied treatment responses.
- Further research is warranted to understand the clinical significance of hyperhidrosis in social anxiety.
- Targeting hyperhidrosis may be important for comprehensive SAD management.