title: Early response and 8-week treatment outcome in GAD.
abstract: Our objective was to compare the predictive value of early response to treatment outcome in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) treated with benzodiazepines, serotonin receptor (5HT-1A) partial agonists, or placebo. Data from two double-blind GAD studies were combined. Subjects were evaluated with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) scale over 8 weeks. Categories of response at weeks 1 and 2 were defined by the HAM-A total score. Analyses of covariance and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were the primary analyses used to assess 8-week end point treatment outcomes as a function of early improvement. HAM-A change from baseline to weeks 1 and 2 significantly predicted last observation carried forward (LOCF) response at week 8 for both medications and for placebo (P<.001). Early improvement was a strong predictor for treatment outcome irrespective of whether active medication or placebo was the treatment agent.
authors.affiliation: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. mrynn2@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rynn
authors.forename: Sarosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalid-Khan
authors.forename: J Felipe
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Garcia-Espana
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Etemad
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rickels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C056895:flesinoxan; C039979:gepirone; D003975:Diazepam