| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term efficacy of venlafaxine extended release (ER) with placebo in preventing panic disorder relapse in out-patient treatment responders. METHOD: Outpatients aged > or = 18 years who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia for at least the previous 3 months, with > or = 6 full symptom panic attacks in the 2 weeks prior to screening and > or = 3 in the 2 weeks before baseline and a Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness rating > or = 4 at screen were eligible to participate. Outpatients received flexible-dose (75-225 mg/day) venla-faxine ER for 12 weeks. Treatment responders were randomly assigned to venlafaxine ER or placebo for 26 weeks. Criteria for response were < or = 1 panic attack per week during the last 2 weeks of open-label treatment and a Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement score of 1 or 2. The primary endpoint, time to relapse during double-blind treatment, defined as > or = 2 full symptom panic attacks per week for 2 consecutive weeks or discontinuation due to loss of effectiveness, was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The study was conducted between December 2001 and August 2003. RESULTS: The intent-to-treat population had 291 patients in the open-label phase and 169 in the double-blind phase (placebo, N = 80; venlafaxine ER, N = 89; mean daily dose 165-171 mg). Time to relapse was significantly longer with venlafaxine ER than placebo (p < .001). All secondary measures of panic attack treatment efficacy, quality of life, and disability were significantly better with venlafaxine ER than placebo (p < or = .005). CONCLUSION: Venlafaxine ER was safe, well tolerated, and effective in preventing relapse in outpatients with panic disorder. |
| Authors | James M Ferguson, Arif Khan, Richard Mangano, Richard Entsuah, Evan Tzanis
(Affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, Psychiatry, Salt Lake City, UT 84103, USA. Drjimferguson at yahoo.com)
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| Journal | The Journal of clinical psychiatry
(J Clin Psychiatry)
Vol. 68
Issue 1
Pg. 58-68
(Jan 2007)
ISSN: 1555-2101 United States |
| PMID | 17284131
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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| Chemical References |
- Cyclohexanols
- Delayed-Action Preparations
- Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
- venlafaxine
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| Topics |
- Adult
- Cyclohexanols
(administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Delayed-Action Preparations
- Disabled Persons
(psychology)
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Humans
- Kaplan-Meiers Estimate
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Outpatients
- Panic Disorder
(drug therapy, psychology)
- Quality of Life
- Recurrence
(prevention & control)
- Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
(administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Treatment Outcome
|
