title: An open, non-randomised comparison of escitalopram and  duloxetine for the treatment of subjects with Generalized  Anxiety Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compares the effectiveness of a 6-months treatment with escitalopram (ESC), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or duloxetine (DUL), a balanced serotonin and nor-adrenaline reuptake inhibitor, in 43 subjects with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment was made with the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression scales (HAM-A; HAM-D), with the CGI, and with the GAF at T0 (intake), T1, T3, T6 (1, 3, and 6 months later). The comparison among the two treatment groups (ESC=20; DUL=23) at the four endpoints was made through a GLM-ANOVA for repeated measures. Rates of remission (HAM-A<7), response (HAM-A reduction of 50% or above) and dropout were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment inception both treatment groups showed a significant improvement in the scores of CGI, HAMA, HAM-D, and GAF, and an equivalent rate of dropout. The DUL group registered a greater amount of remission and response rates at T1 against the ESC group in all the scales except in the HAM-D scale. Duloxetine was more effective than escitalopram after the first month of treatment only in the somatic subscale of HAM-A. The presence of a cluster C personality disorder was associated in both groups to greater difficulties in attaining remission and to dropout.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Department ASL TO 4, Mental Health Centre, Chivasso, Italy. andrea.piero@unito.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierò
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Locati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015283:Citalopram / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D015283:Citalopram; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes