title: The extended-release formulation of quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) adjunctive treatment in partially responsive generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): An open label naturalistic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of adjunctive treatment with extended-release formulation of quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) to other antidepressants in the treatment of partially responsive, poorly functioning patients with generalized anxiety disorder was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four consenting adult outpatients with confirmed DSM-IV diagnosis of generalized disorder were identified. All patients failed at least one 8-week treatment trial with SSRI or SNRI antidepressant. All were treated with quetiapine XR as an add on treatment to citalopram or vanlafaxine antidepressant for at least 12 weeks. The primary efficacy measure was the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S). Other scales included; the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) scale, Sheehan Disability Scale, and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). Baseline measures prior to adding quetiapine XR were compared to those at 4, 8 and 12 weeks with the adjunctive treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty three patients completed the trial. There was significant rapid resolution of the anxiety symptoms in all effectiveness measures, including the symptoms of anxiety as shown by changes from baseline in HAM-A, and CGI at four weeks. Improvement was maintained to week twelve. Impairments in work, social, and home responsibilities were also reduced significantly, and there were no significant changes in weight at 12 weeks. Patients tolerated the adjunctive treatment well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quetiapine XR may have anxiolytic properties and could be used effectively as adjunctive treatment with SSRIs in GAD patients with partial response to SSRs or SNRISs. However double blind randomized trials are needed to support these results.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary and Calgary Health Region, Canada. gabriel@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabriel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate