What is Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a chronic, debilitating psychiatric condition in which patients experience abnormal fear in social situations.[1]. SAD affects approximately 15 million American adults each year, making it one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the U.S., along with major depression, alcohol abuse, and specific phobias.[2][3][4]

We all worry about what other people think of us, but some people have a deep fear of social situations that might cause embarrassment. For them, occasions such as attending parties or meetings, eating in front of others, having conversations with others, and/or public speaking can trigger intense discomfort. People who experience this fear often try to avoid these types of situations, and when they do engage in social activities, they can suffer a great deal, feeling physical symptoms such as gastrointestinal discomfort, sweating, tremors, or heart palpitations.[1]

Diagnosis of SAD

A psychiatrist uses criteria published by the American Psychiatric Association to diagnose SAD:

• When you know you'll be around unfamiliar people, you feel anxious or afraid
• You imagine yourself doing things to humiliate yourself
• When you are actually in the feared situation, you're extremely anxious and may have a panic attack
• You realize your fear is unreasonable, but you can't stop the feeling
• You begin to avoid situations that trigger your fear, but if there's no escape you suffer the whole time
• This anxiety causes problems at work or in daily life
• Your unreasonable anxiety itself causes you more distress
• Your fear or desire to avoid fearful situations has nothing to do with any medical condition, nor is it related to the effects of any medication or other substances

Source: [1]

SAD Impacts More Than Just the Patient

SAD can impact a person's ability to function at school or work, their relationship with their family and friends, and can limit their social network as well as diminish their prospects for romantic relationships.[5]

SAD is often underdiagnosed in primary care settings and SAD patients may not seek the help they need, possibly because they are afraid or embarrassed.[6] Family members, friends, and caregivers can make sure their loved one or friend keeps their scheduled appointments and follows the directions for any medicine or therapy that's prescribed.

Treatment Can Help Many People with SAD

There are several treatment strategies intended to help achieve the treatment goal of reducing social anxiety to manageable levels, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications.[7][8]

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

Some degree of discomfort in social situations is not uncommon. Anxiety can be SAD depending on the severity and persistence of the symptoms, the amount of distress the symptoms cause, and how much they interfere with daily life.[1] While we all worry about what others think of us, people with SAD perceive any criticism or mistake as catastrophic.[1][9]

Symptoms of SAD may be evident in children and adolescents, but may not become diagnosed until later in life. Some studies suggest that children who are especially shy, anxious, or withdrawn may be at higher risk for subsequently developing SAD.[10][11] A large study noted that the average age when SAD developed was about 15 years old, but that treatment was delayed as much as 12 years after those first symptoms.[12] LUVOX CR is not indicated for pediatric or adolescent use. Please speak to your doctor to determine the treatment regimen that is right for you.

People with SAD may experience panic attacks: pounding heart, shortness of breath, sweating, and the feeling that they might actually die. Signs that such intense fear is SAD include a persistence of the anxiety in one or more social situations, and efforts to avoid the feared situations, even though the fear is recognized as unreasonable and causes the person marked distress.[1] These fears can significantly interfere with how a person normally functions.[1]

Once-A-Day LUVOX CR^® (fluvoxamine maleate) Extended-Release Capsules are indicated for the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Important Safety Information

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The use of alosetron, tizanidine, thioridazine, or pimozide with LUVOX CR Capsules is contraindicated. The use of MAO inhibitors in combination with LUVOX CR Capsules, or within 14 days of discontinuing treatment with LUVOX CR Capsules, is contraindicated (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS). LUVOX CR Capsules are also contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to fluvoxamine maleate or any of its excipients.

ADVERSE EVENTS

In clinical trials, the most commonly observed adverse events with an incidence of ≥5% and at least twice that of placebo were nausea, somnolence, asthenia, diarrhea, anorexia, tremor, and sweating. Overall, these side effects were mild to moderate in severity and transient in nature. Other common adverse events (≥5% and at least twice that of placebo) included abnormal ejaculation and anorgasmia.

Please see full prescribing information, including boxed warning, for LUVOX CR.