title: Kava-kava extract WS 1490 versus placebo in anxiety disorders--a randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trial.
abstract: 101 outpatients suffering from anxiety of non-psychotic origin (DSM-III-R criteria: agoraphobia, specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder with anxiety) were included in a 25-week multicenter randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial with WS 1490, a special extract of kava-kava. In the main outcome criterion, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), there was a significant superiority of the test drug starting from week 8 on. WS 1490 was also found to be superior with respect to the secondary outcome variables. HAMA subscores somatic and psychic anxiety, Clinical Global Impression, Self-Report Symptom Inventory-90 Items revised, and Adjective Mood Scale. Adverse events were rare and distributed evenly in both groups. These results support WS 1490 as a treatment alternative to tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders, with proven long-term efficacy and none of the tolerance problems associated with tricyclics and benzodiazepines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jena University, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Volz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kieser
mesh_terms: 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; D020901:Kava; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts