A randomized controlled trial of paroxetine for noncardiac chest pain.
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.
Doraiswamy
P Murali
PM
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Varia
Indira
I
Hellegers
Caroline
C
Wagner
H Ryan
HR
Clary
Greg L
GL
Beyer
John L
JL
Newby
L Kristin
LK
O'Connor
John F
JF
Beebe
Katherine L
KL
O'Connor
Christopher
C
Krishnan
K Ranga
KR
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
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors