A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of buspirone for the treatment of anxiety in opioid-dependent individuals.
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.
McRae
Aimee L
AL
Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 61 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. mcraeal@musc.edu
Sonne
Susan C
SC
Brady
Kathleen T
KT
Durkalski
Valerie
V
Palesch
Yuko
Y
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
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010919:Placebos; D002065:Buspirone