An open, non-randomised comparison of escitalopram and duloxetine for the treatment of subjects with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

✍ Scribed by Andrea Pierò; Enrica Locati

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 98 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.1172

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objectives

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, HAM‐A, 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. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.