title: A randomized controlled trial of paroxetine for noncardiac chest pain.
abstract: Noncardiac chest pain occurs frequently in medical practice and is often difficult to treat. We conducted a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week trial of paroxetine in 50 patients with noncardiac chest pain. None of the patients met criteria for panic disorder or major depression. Paroxetine-treated patients showed greater (P < .05) improvements than placebo-treated patients on the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale. Both paroxetine and placebo-treated patients improved to a similar extent on selfrated pain measures, although baseline differences limited the interpretation of this outcome variable. There were no differences on other outcome ratings. Treatment was well tolerated. These preliminary findings extend other data on the potential of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the acute treatment of noncardiac chest pain. Some recommendations for future studies to definitively test this potential are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: P Murali
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Doraiswamy
authors.forename: Indira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Varia
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hellegers
authors.forename: H Ryan
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Greg L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Clary
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: L Kristin
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: K Ranga
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Krishnan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors