Alprazolam treatment of postcoronary bypass anxiety and depression.
The effectiveness of alprazolam in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression in 60 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery was assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The results indicate that alprazolam treatment for anxiety following coronary bypass surgery, particularly symptoms occurring in the immediate postoperative period, can significantly affect patient outcome. Specifically, only modest but statistically significant improvement was observed in the alprazolam-treated groups at 1-month follow-up; however, alprazolam-treated patients were significantly more likely to experience a very rapid anxiolytic effect by postoperative day 8. The implications of this study are discussed with respect to patient management and models for future studies of anxiety in postoperative patient populations.
Freeman
A M
AM
Fleece
L
L
Folks
D G
DG
Sokol
R S
RS
Hall
K R
KR
Pacifico
A D
AD
McGiffin
D C
DC
Kirklin
J K
JK
Zorn
G L
GL
Karp
R B
RB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000525:Alprazolam; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000525:Alprazolam