Venlafaxine, a new type of antidepressant, helps patients with social anxiety disorder, according to a recent study.
In social anxiety disorder (SAD) people experience fear, anxiety and dread in relation to meeting and talking with other people - which can make both work and social situations a huge problem. Many of those with SAD suffer other mental health problems, like depression, and the condition can be hard to treat.

Researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute have been testing a new antidepressant, venlafaxine, on a group of people with SAD. Venlafaxine is known as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It increases the levels of two brain chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, which are known to be involved in emotion.

In this trial, those on the drug reported a marked improvement in their symptoms after around four weeks. This is the first time that this kind of drug has been tested for SAD - and it looks promising, because there were also few of the side effects often associated with antidepressants.