A member asked:

Is it possible that a ssri like zoloft (sertraline) shows benefit for social anxiety without helping ocd ? shouldn't everything related to serotonin improve ?

3 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Sometimes: Fairly high doses of ssri's are needed for good response of ocd. It is feasible that levels were sufficient for the social anxiety to show improvement but not high enough for the ocd. But a bigger issue is whether you are receiving non- medication treatment for you ocd. Consider cognitive behavioral therapy.

Answered 2/2/2014

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Dr. Lynne Weixel answered

Specializes in Clinical Psychology

My POV: This is my opinion - many may disagree. Mental health symptoms don't relate to medications in a 1:1 ratio (if at all). We've tried to create symptom bundles that appear together into DX names, like ocd. Ssris are now used off-label for many dxs - if it works, great - if not, something else is tried. This is too few words to explain it, but add talk tx (cbt) to address specific symptoms. It helps!

Answered 9/29/2016

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Dr. Linda Callaghan answered

Specializes in Addiction Medicine

Yes.: Yes, zoloft (sertraline) helps social anxiety as well as ocd. Ocd and social anxiety are under the general category of anxiety disorders. When you treat the ocd, the dosage is often higher . Standard of care has a higher dosages of ssris when treating obsessive compulsive disorders.

Answered 6/15/2019

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