童年期的恐惧和行为抑制可能变为长期的失能的状况。在童年期早期识别和检测出损伤,加上基于证据的治疗可能防止社交恐惧症延续至成年期。对儿童晚期/青春期、父母、学校工作人员以及医疗保健提供者的教育-行为干预,在1年随访时发展成为社交恐惧症的风险低于安慰剂组。[24]Aune T, Stiles TC. Universal-based prevention of syndromal and subsyndromal social anxiety: a randomized controlled study. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2009;77:867-879.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19803567?tool=bestpractice.com
已有研究证实 β 受体阻滞剂普萘洛尔单剂用药能有效治疗社交焦虑(例如行为表现焦虑),但临床试验不支持该药的常规使用。[25]Jefferson JW. Social phobia: a pharmacologic treatment overview. J Clin Psychiatry. 1995;56(suppl 5):18-24.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7782272?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Muller U, Mottweiler E, Bublak P. Noradrenergic blockade and numeric working memory in humans. J Psychopharmacol. 2005 Jan;19(1):21-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15671125?tool=bestpractice.com 并不推荐用于广泛性社交恐惧症,因为多个对照试验证明其并不比安慰剂有效。[27]Liebowitz, MR, Schneier F, Campeas R, et al. Phenelzine vs atenolol in social phobia. A placebo-controlled comparison. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1992 Apr;49(4):290-300.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1558463?tool=bestpractice.com[28]Canadian Psychiatric Association. Clinical practice guidelines: management of anxiety disorders. Can J Psychiatry. 2006 Jul;51(8 suppl 2):9S-91S.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16933543?tool=bestpractice.com[29]Turner SM, Beidel DC, Jacob RG. Social phobia: a comparison of behavior therapy and atenolol. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1994 Apr;62(2):350-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8201073?tool=bestpractice.com[30]Falloon IR, Lloyd GG, Harpin RE. The treatment of social phobia: real-life rehearsal with nonprofessional therapists. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1981 Mar;169(3):180-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7205244?tool=bestpractice.com[31]Stein MB, Sareen J, Hami S, et al. Pindolol potentiation of paroxetine for generalized social phobia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Am J Psychiatry. 2001 Oct;158(10):1725-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11579011?tool=bestpractice.com