Related Experiment Videos
An open trial of fluvoxamine therapy for panic disorder complicated by depression
D A Spiegel1, S A Saeed, T J Bruce
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, USA.
Background:
The efficacy of fluvoxamine in the treatment of panic disorder complicated by depression was investigated in an 8-week, single-group, open-label, flexible-dose trial.
Method:
Seventeen patients having a principal diagnosis of panic disorder and scoring 16 or more on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression were treated with fluvoxamine at a mean final dose of 213 mg/ day. Outcome was assessed on measures of panic attacks, general and anticipatory anxiety, agoraphobic avoidance, depression, disability, and fear of anxiety symptoms.
Results:
Subjects improved on all measures except agoraphobic avoidance. Thirteen either chose to remain on fluvoxamine treatment after the study ended or resumed taking it after a brief period without medication or on another medication.
Conclusion:
Fluvoxamine appears to be effective in this population.