title: An open-label trial of duloxetine in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is commonly comorbid with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). We evaluated whether duloxetine would lead to improvement in symptoms and quality of life in patients with both conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 12-week, open-label trial of duloxetine was conducted in 13 subjects with IBS and GAD. The primary outcome measure was the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale. Secondary measures included the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, IBS Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) Scale, and IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine the effect of treatment with duloxetine on ratings of anxiety and IBS. Significant improvement was observed on the CGI-Improvement (F = 14.19, df = 1,12, p < 0.001) and Severity scales (F = 16.16, df = 1,12, p < 0.001). Secondary measures revealed significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety (F = 11.66, df = 1,12, p < 0.01), ηp(2) = 0.56, and IBS-SSS (F = 6.05, df = 1,12, p < 0.001), ηp(2) = 0.34, in addition to IBS-QOL improvements (F = 11.66, df = 1,12, p < 0.01), ηp(2) = 0.56.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this pilot study support the efficacious use of duloxetine in comorbid IBS and GAD. Participants reported significant reductions in IBS components, as well as improvement in GAD.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Allegheny General Hospital, West Penn Allegheny Health System , Pittsburgh, PA , USA.
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Kaplan
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Franzen
authors: P V
authors: PV
authors: Nickell
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Ransom
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Lebovitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes