title: Three-year follow-up of patients with panic disorder after short-term treatment with alprazolam and imipramine.
abstract: Fifty-five patients with moderate to sever panic disorder were treated for 9 weeks with alprazolam or imipramine and were then, except for one patient who had committed suicide, re-examined after on average 3 years of treatment. At follow-up most patients (74%) did not suffer from panic attacks at all. In the beginning of the study 87% exhibited phobic avoidance behaviour but after 3 years 68% no longer revealed phobic behaviour. At follow-up 28% of the patients were no longer having psychotropic drug treatment and 20% were completely free of overt psychopathology. No tolerance phenomena were associated with the long-term medication applied in the study.
authors.affiliation: Vaajasalo Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Lepola
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Rimón
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Riekkinen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory
chemical_list: D007099:Imipramine; D000525:Alprazolam