title: Prevalence and clinical characteristics of remission during treatment in generalized anxiety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the remission criteria for generalized anxiety are well defined, there is not much data available on the point prevalence of remission. The Measuring Impact of Remission in Anxiety Disorders in Belgium (MIRABEL) study is a naturalistic study designed to document the point prevalence of remission in patients treated for general anxiety and potential factors affecting this prevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 618 adult outpatients being treated for generalized anxiety. The sample is defined by the key symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder rather than by fulfilling the exact DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. Remission was defined as a Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) score of less than or equal to 7. To reduce the interrater reliability, the HAM-A was assessed by the attending physicians who had no specific training. Factors investigated as possibly related to remission included sociodemographic, disease and treatment characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The point prevalence of remission in the study population was estimated at 13.3%. Remission prevalence varied with occupational status and severity of the current anxiety episode. Remission prevalence was lower in the presence of comorbidity and was proportional to the number of comorbid symptoms. Remitters took fewer medications but were treated longer. Remission prevalence was higher in patients who were taking antidepressants, but was lower in patients who were taking sedatives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings underline the poor prognosis of generalized anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium. marianne.destoop@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Destoop
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van den Eede
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansseau
authors.forename: Adelin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanbelle
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mignon
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slachmuylders
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabbe
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors