Responders and non-responders to drug treatment in social phobia: differences at baseline and prediction of response.

Differences between responders and non-responders to drug therapy were investigated in social phobia. Two previously published studies were pooled to obtain data of 30 patients who were treated for 12 weeks with brofaromine or fluvoxamine. Four criterion variables were used to divide patients in responders and non-responders. Depending on the criterion variable up to 72% of the patients were regarded as responders. Non-responders differed from responders in that they had a higher heart rate and a higher blood pressure. They were also characterized by higher scores on several psychometric scales, indicative of illness severity.