Remission of generalized anxiety disorder: a review of the paroxetine clinical trials database.
OBJECTIVE
Paroxetine is a potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with antidepressant and anxiolytic activity that is effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), improving the core symptoms of anxiety, worry, and tension. The majority of patients with GAD have chronic symptomatology and significant comorbid mood and anxiety disorders that often require ongoing pharmacotherapy. This article reviews the efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine in the short- and long-term treatment of GAD including remission data.


METHODS
Data from more than 1800 outpatients with DSM-IV-defined GAD were analyzed from 3 short-term (8-week) studies and a longer (6-month) relapse prevention study. These studies were all randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of paroxetine.


RESULTS
The results emphasize the benefit of paroxetine treatment in GAD, enabling a substantial proportion of patients to achieve clinical remission and preventing relapse. Long-term treatment with paroxetine also shows good tolerability with no evidence of weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the high comorbidity of psychiatric depression and anxiety, the long-term efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine are important considerations when selecting a first-line therapy for patients with GAD.
Rickels
Karl
K
Mood & Anxiety Disorders Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, USA. krickels@pobox.upenn.edu
Rynn
Moira
M
Iyengar
Malini
M
Duff
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017374:Paroxetine; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors