Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: comparison of a new beta-blocking drug (CGP 361 A), low-dose neuroleptic (flupenthixol), and placebo.
In an attempt to evaluate an alternative drug treatment to benzodiazepines in generalized anxiety disorders, a placebo controlled trial was carried out with a new beta-adrenergic blocker (CPG 361 A). A low-dosage neuroleptic (flupenthixol) was included as a reference drug. Depending on the clinical assessment scales the placebo treatment resulted in moderate to excellent improvement in 36% to 56% of the patients after four weeks of treatment. The active drugs generally had a higher improvement range (from 31% to 80%). The global improvement scale was found to be better than the other scales in discriminating between placebo (50% improvement) and the active drugs (CGP 361 A brought about 78% improvement and flupenthixol brought about 80% improvement). However, only for flupenthixol was the difference of statistical significance.
Department of Psychiatry, Frederiksborg General Hospital, Hillerod, Denmark.
H
H
Bjerrum
P
P
Allerup
K
K
Thunedborg
K
K
Jakobsen
P
P
Bech
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011412:Propanolamines; C058392:isamoltane; D005475:Flupenthixol