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.
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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)
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Chemical References |
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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
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