An open trial of nefazodone in adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic disorder for which a variety of medications have been prescribed. Nefazodone is a recently released antidepressant that potently antagonizes the serotonin type 2A receptor and blocks uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. It also antagonizes the serotonin type 2C receptor. Studies suggest this action may be anxiolytic. Twenty-one patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for GAD enrolled in an open 8-week trial of nefazodone were monitored by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and the Clinical Global impressions scale. Fifteen of the 21 subjects completed the trial; 12 (80%) were rated as either very much or much improved, 1 (7%) as minimally improved, and 2 (13%) as unchanged. None was rated as worse. Nefazodone may be useful and well tolerated in the treatment of GAD. Theoretical questions about the neurobiological basis of GAD are also raised.