title: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of buspirone for the treatment of anxiety in opioid-dependent individuals.
abstract: Anxiety symptoms are common among opioid-dependent individuals. Buspirone, a nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytic, has been used successfully for the treatment of anxiety in alcoholic patients. Its efficacy in opioid-dependent patients has not been previously examined. We conducted a twelve-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of buspirone in 36 subjects receiving methadone-maintenance treatment who presented with anxiety symptoms. Measures of anxiety, depression, and substance use were obtained repeatedly during treatment. Buspirone treatment did not significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in opioid-dependent patients. However, buspirone treatment was associated with trends toward reduction in depression scale scores and a slower return to substance use.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 61 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. mcraeal@musc.edu
authors.forename: Aimee L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sonne
authors.forename: Kathleen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Durkalski
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Palesch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002065:Buspirone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010919:Placebos; D002065:Buspirone