| abstract |
A method of treating social phobia comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an androsta-4,16-dien-3-ol steroid to an individual in need of treatment, and an androsta-4,16-dien-3-ol steroid A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of social phobia comprising a therapeutically effective amount is provided. Administration of the androsta-4,16-dien-3-ol compound is preferably intranasal to the individual's nasal passages and vomeronasal apparatus. A preferred androsta-4,16-dien-3-ol steroid is [3β] -androsta-4,16-dien-3-ol. In some embodiments of the methods of the invention, both [3β} -androst-4,16-dien-3-ol and [3α] -androst-4,16-dien-3-ol are treated with the patient. Both of these are also included in the pharmaceutical composition administered to treats social phobia. |