title: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of ipsapirone versus lorazepam in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: a prospective multicenter trial.
abstract: This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ipsapirone (an azapirone anxiolytic) at daily dose levels of 10.0 to 30.0 mg with a daily dose of 2.0 to 6.0 mg of lorazepam (a benzodiazepine) or placebo when given to outpatients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) of moderate or greater severity. A total of 317 outpatients with a primary diagnosis of GAD according to DSM-III criteria (at least 1 month's duration) were randomized. Study entry criteria at the time of screening and at baseline included a Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) score of 18 or more, a Covi Anxiety Scale score of 8 or more, and a Raskin Depression Scale score of 7 or less. The study design consisted of a 1-week, single-blind placebo evaluation, a 4-week, double-blind acute treatment period, and a 4-week extension period, followed by a 2-week, single-blind placebo withdrawal period. Efficacy was measured by changes in the HAM-A and Clinical Global Impression Scale and by evaluations of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Zung-Anxiety Self-Rating scale. The Raskin and Covi scales were performed at screening and baseline only. Withdrawal reactions were assessed during the withdrawal period by the Physician Withdrawal Checklist and by a patient self-rating checklist. Two-hundred sixty-three patients were valid for the analysis of efficacy in the ipsapirone (N = 87), lorazepam (N = 89), and placebo (N = 87) groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Miles Inc., West Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sramek
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Keppel Hesselink
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krol
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roeschen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rickels
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schweizer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; C043077:ipsapirone; D008140:Lorazepam