Sertraline in generalized anxiety disorder: efficacy in treating the psychic and somatic anxiety factors.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to study the efficacy of sertraline on symptoms of psychic and somatic anxiety in patients suffering from moderate-to-severe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).


METHODS
Out-patients with DSM-IV GAD were randomized to 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with placebo. The psychic and somatic anxiety factors of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Quality of Life, Enjoyment, and Satisfaction Questionnaire were analyzed.


RESULTS
Treatment with sertraline resulted in significantly greater last observation carried forward (LOCF)-endpoint improvement than placebo on both the HAM-A psychic and somatic anxiety factors. At LOCF-endpoint, all items on the HAM-A psychic factor were more improved on sertraline than placebo, as were three of seven items on the somatic factor. Reduction of secondary depressive symptoms was more correlated with endpoint improvement in quality of life than either psychic- or somatic anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Sertraline treatment demonstrated efficacy for both the psychic and somatic anxiety symptoms of GAD.
Dahl
A A
AA
Department of Clinical Cancer Research, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Trust, University of Oslo, Montebello, Oslo, Norway. alvd@ulrik.uio.no
Ravindran
A
A
Allgulander
C
C
Kutcher
S P
SP
Austin
C
C
Burt
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline