title: Improvement of quality of life in panic disorder with escitalopram, citalopram, or placebo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been argued that measurement of outcome in panic disorder should not be limited to monitoring the number of panic attacks, but should include all domains that affect patient quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a randomized prospective comparison of escitalopram, citalopram, and placebo in patients with DSM-IV panic disorder were analyzed with regard to measurements of impairment of quality of life. The subscales of the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (P&A) (Panic Attacks, Agoraphobic Avoidance, Anticipatory Anxiety, Functional and Social Disability, and Worries about Health) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with escitalopram was associated with significant improvement on all 5 subscales of the P&A. Citalopram was significantly different from placebo in 3 subscales. Escitalopram and citalopram were significantly better than placebo in improving quality of life (measured by the total score of the Q-LES-Q Scale). Escitalopram was superior to placebo on 12 of 16 items of the Q-LES-Q, while citalopram was superior on 7 items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The P&A scale was more robust than measurement of panic frequency in differentiating medication from placebo. Escitalopram treatment was associated with improvement on all assessed domains that impair quality of life in panic disorder. Measurement of clinical improvement should not be solely based on panic attack frequency, but should also include assessment of a broad range of domains that affect patient quality of life.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. Sekretariat-Bandelow@medizin.uni-goettingen.de
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bandelow
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Stein
authors: O T
authors: OT
authors: Dolberg
authors: H F
authors: HF
authors: Andersen
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Baldwin
mesh_terms: D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors