Mirtazapine treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a fixed dose, open label study.

Abstract

We investigated the efficacy of mirtazapine in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Forty-four adult outpatients with GAD were treated openly with a fixed dose of mirtazapine (30 mg) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change from baseline in total score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A). The Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) was rated at the endpoint. Patients with a reduction of 50% or more on the HAM-A total score and a CGI-I score of 1 or 2 at endpoint were considered responders to treatment; remission was defined as a HAM-A score <or=7. At 12 weeks, response was achieved by 79.5% of the patients (n=35) and remission by 36.4% of patients (n=16). This study supports the notion that mirtazapine is an efficacious and well tolerated treatment for GAD. Limitations of the present study must be considered and further placebo-controlled trials are needed.

• Authors: Francesco Gambi, Domenico De Berardis, Daniela Campanella, Alessandro Carano, Gianna Sepede, Gabriele Salini, Daniela Mezzano, Alessandra Cicconetti, Laura Penna, Rosa Maria Salerno, Filippo Maria Ferro
• Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol) Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pg. 483-7 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 0269-8811 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16166185 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
• Mianserin
• Mirtazapine

Topics

• Adult
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Anxiety Disorders (drug therapy, psychology)
• Appetite (drug effects)
• Constipation (chemically induced)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Mianserin (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Mirtazapine
• Outpatients
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Sleep Stages (drug effects)
• Treatment Outcome
• Weight Gain (drug effects)
• Xerostomia (chemically induced)