An open trial of fluvoxamine for hypochondriasis.
The authors conducted a 12-week, open-label trial of fluvoxamine among 18 patients with DSM-IV hypochondriasis. Response was defined as a physician-rated CGI improvement rating of at least "much improved." Four patients discontinued during the 2-week placebo run-in phase. Among 14 patients given fluvoxamine, the response rate was 72.7% (N=8 of 11) for those completing at least 6 weeks of the trial (minimum-treatment analysis) and 57.1% (N=8 of 14) for the intent-to-treat analysis; these are comparable to rates reported previously for fluoxetine. Significant improvement was also noted on each of the self-report and physician-administered hypochondriasis measures. Fluvoxamine was also well tolerated. A controlled trial is needed.
Fallon
Brian A
BA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, USA.
Qureshi
Altamash I
AI
Schneier
Franklin R
FR
Sanchez-Lacay
Arturo
A
Vermes
Donna
D
Feinstein
Robert
R
Connelly
Joseph
J
Liebowitz
Michael R
MR
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D016666:Fluvoxamine