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Hyperhidrosis in social anxiety disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Davidson, JRT; Foa, EB; Connor, KM; Churchill, LE
Published in: Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
December 2002

PURPOSE: Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is an overlooked and potentially disabling symptom, which is often seen in social anxiety disorder (SAD). We conducted a retrospective review of data acquired in patients with SAD who had participated in placebo-controlled clinical trials of fluoxetine, cognitive behavior therapy, clonazepam and gabapentin. Four specific topics were addressed: (1) overall levels of sweating; (2) characteristics of those with hyperhidrosis; (3) a comparison of active treatments relative to placebo on hyperhidrosis; and (4) an examination of baseline sweating severity as a predictor of treatment outcome. METHODS: Using the Brief Social Phobia Scale (BSPS) and Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), we examined the above questions. RESULTS: Hyperhidrosis was found in 24.8-32.3% of 375 subjects assessed, depending upon the scale used. Hyperhidrosis was associated with higher levels of disability, fear, avoidance, and other physiologic symptoms. While treatment in general was associated with a reduction in the rate of hyperhidrosis from 23.7% to 9.7% (BSPS), and 34.0% to 15.5% (SPIN), only fluoxetine differed significantly from placebo in respect of change in sweating score from baseline to endpoint. In an ANCOVA, gabapentin differed from placebo on the SPIN. CONCLUSION: We conclude that hyperhidrosis is frequently seen in patients with SAD, and that its response to treatment is variable. Further attention should be paid to the possible importance of this symptom in social anxiety.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0278-5846

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

26

Issue

7-8

Start / End Page

1327 / 1331

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Psychiatry
  • Prognosis
  • Phobic Disorders
  • Male
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Humans
  • Gabapentin
 

Citation

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Davidson, J. R. T., Foa, E. B., Connor, K. M., & Churchill, L. E. (2002). Hyperhidrosis in social anxiety disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 26(7–8), 1327–1331. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-5846(02)00297-x
Davidson, Jonathan R. T., Edna B. Foa, Kathryn M. Connor, and L Erik Churchill. “Hyperhidrosis in social anxiety disorder.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 26, no. 7–8 (December 2002): 1327–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-5846(02)00297-x.
Davidson JRT, Foa EB, Connor KM, Churchill LE. Hyperhidrosis in social anxiety disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Dec;26(7–8):1327–31.
Davidson, Jonathan R. T., et al. “Hyperhidrosis in social anxiety disorder.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, vol. 26, no. 7–8, Dec. 2002, pp. 1327–31. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0278-5846(02)00297-x.
Davidson JRT, Foa EB, Connor KM, Churchill LE. Hyperhidrosis in social anxiety disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Dec;26(7–8):1327–1331.
Journal cover image

Published In

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0278-5846

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

26

Issue

7-8

Start / End Page

1327 / 1331

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Psychiatry
  • Prognosis
  • Phobic Disorders
  • Male
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Humans
  • Gabapentin