title: The efficacy of antidepressants for generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and acceptability of antidepressants in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  All randomized controlled trials assessing the use of antidepressants in generalized anxiety disorder up to may 2002 were included. Non randomized trials and those that included patients with both generalized anxiety disorder and another Axis I co-morbidity were excluded. Relative risks, weighted mean difference and number needed to treat were estimated. People who died or dropped out were regarded as having had no improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antidepressants (imipramine, venlafaxine and paroxetine) were found to be superior to placebo in treating generalized anxiety disorder. The calculated number needed to treat for antidepressants in generalized anxiety disorder was 5.15. Dropout rates did not differ between antidepressants and placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The available evidence suggests that antidepressants would probably be a reasonable treatment for generalized anxiety disorder patients in the clinical context.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Federal University, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Fernando Kratz
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Gazalle
authors.forename: Maurício Silva de
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Flávio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017374:Paroxetine; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D007099:Imipramine