title: Escitalopram and paroxetine in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder: randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is uncertain whether higher doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have greater efficacy in generalised anxiety disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of different doses of escitalopram in generalised anxiety disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose, parallel-group, 12-week study, with 681 patients: placebo (n=139); escitalopram, 5 mg/day, (n=134); 10 mg/day (n=136); 20 mg/day (n=133); paroxetine, 20 mg/day (n=139).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean change in the primary efficacy measure was greater with escitalopram 10 and 20 mg than with placebo; 10 mg was more efficacious than paroxetine. Paroxetine was superior to placebo on some secondary measures, at some time points. Compared with placebo, more patients withdrew because of adverse events with escitalopram 20 mg and paroxetine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Escitalopram was efficacious in generalised anxiety disorder, 20 was not significantly superior to 10 mg/day. Escitalopram 10 mg was more efficacious than paroxetine.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Division, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Royal South Hants Hospital, Graham Road, Southampton SO14 0YG, UK. dsb1@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Anna Karina Trap
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Huusom
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maehlum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors