Efficacy of buspirone in generalized anxiety disorder with coexisting mild depressive symptoms.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study was designed to evaluate the anxiolytic efficacy of buspirone in patients with a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with coexisting mild depressive symptoms.

METHOD:

Patients who participated in this multicenter study scored >/= 18 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) and between 12 and 17 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Following a 7- to 10-day placebo lead-in phase, patients who continued to qualify were randomly assigned to receive either buspirone titrated from 15 to 45 mg/day (N = 80) or placebo (N = 82) for the next 6 weeks. 121 patients completed 6 weeks of treatment. The primary efficacy measure was the HAM-A, taken weekly during the study.

RESULTS:

Buspirone-treated patients averaged a 12.4-point reduction from their baseline total HAM-A score of 24.9, while their counterparts on placebo averaged a 9.5-point reduction from their mean baseline total HAM-A score of 25.6. This 2.9-point difference in HAM-A reductions between treatment groups was significantly different (p < .03). Buspirone patients decreased their HAM-D scores by an average 5.7 points from their mean baseline total HAM-D score of 15.8, while placebo patients decreased their HAM-D scores by an average 3.5 points from their mean baseline score of 16.3 (p < .05). Overall, the incidence of adverse events was similar for both treatment groups, but buspirone-treated patients reported significantly more nausea, dizziness, somnolence, and sweating than placebo patients.

CONCLUSION:

Buspirone is superior to placebo in improving anxiety and depressive symptoms in GAD patients who have coexisting depressive symptoms.

• Authors: J J Sramek, M Tansman, A Suri, M Hornig-Rohan, J D Amsterdam, S M Stahl, R H Weisler, N R Cutler
• Journal: The Journal of clinical psychiatry (J Clin Psychiatry) Vol. 57 Issue 7 Pg. 287-91 (Jul 1996) ISSN: 0160-6689 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8666569 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Buspirone

Topics

• Adult
• Anxiety Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Buspirone (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Comorbidity
• Depression (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Dizziness (chemically induced)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Nausea (chemically induced)
• Placebos
• Prospective Studies
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Sleep
• Sweating
• Treatment Outcome