Paroxetine treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent and disabling anxiety disorder, conservatively believed to affect at least 5% of the general population. Cardinal symptoms of GAD include chronic and uncontrollable worry, anxiety, and tension, which result in difficulty fulfilling social, professional, and family roles. Treatment options include benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine XR. Because of the high comorbidity of GAD with other psychiatric disorders, pharmacologic therapy should possess both anxiolytic and antidepressive properties for best outcomes. The SSRIs are a good treatment option, and paroxetine is the best studied SSRI for GAD and the only SSRI to date approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for this indication. Results of randomized, controlled studies of paroxetine have demonstrated its efficacy in the short-term treatment of GAD, in achieving and sustaining full remission, and in preventing relapse. This article provides an overview of GAD and a discussion of studies of paroxetine treatment in this anxiety disorder.