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Anticonvulsants in anxiety disorders
Gustavo Kinrys1, Lisa E Wygant
1Anxiety Disorders Research Program, Cambridge Health Alliance-Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. gkinrys@challiance.org
Current Psychiatry Reports
|August 16, 2005
Summary
Anticonvulsant drugs show potential for treating anxiety disorders, acting as monotherapy or augmentation. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm these promising findings for anxiety treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Anticonvulsant drugs are effective mood disorder treatments.
- Their efficacy in anxiety disorders is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on anticonvulsants for anxiety disorders.
- To assess their potential as monotherapy or augmentation treatments.
Main Methods:
- Review of case reports, open-label trials, and placebo-controlled trials.
- Analysis of existing psychopharmacology research.
Main Results:
- Studies show varied results regarding anticonvulsant efficacy for anxiety.
- A potential role in monotherapy or augmentation is indicated.
Conclusions:
- Early findings suggest anticonvulsants may treat anxiety.
- Large-scale, placebo-controlled studies are required for confirmation.