These drugs were better tolerated than tricyclics and benzodiazepines as they had a low risk of dependence and overdosing complications .
The serotonergic , noradrenergic and GABAergic pathways play a major role in the fear network and in the physiopathology of PD .
INTRODUCTION Panic disorder ( PD ) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder characterized by unexpected and recurrent panic attacks .
PD patients present significant psychosocial impairment and a high risk of psychiatric comorbidities and suicide .
PD should be treated effectively as soon as the symptoms emerge because the longer these patients remain without treatment , the worse the prognosis will be .
SSRIs and SNRIs are the first-line compounds in the treatment of PD .
Relapse prevention of panic disorder in adult outpatient responders to treatment with venlafaxine extended release.
OBJECTIVE To compare the long-term efficacy of venlafaxine extended release ( ER ) with placebo in preventing panic disorder relapse in out-patient treatment responders . METHOD Out patients aged > or = 18 years who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition , criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia for at least the previous 3 months , with > or = 6 full symptom panic attacks in the 2 weeks prior to screening and > or = 3 in the 2 weeks before baseline and a Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness rating > or = 4 at screen were eligible to participate . Out patients received flexible-dose ( 75 - 225 mg/day ) venla-faxine ER for 12 weeks . Treatment responders were r and omly assigned to venlafaxine ER or placebo for 26 weeks . Criteria for response were < or = 1 panic attack per week during the last 2 weeks of open-label treatment and a Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement score of 1 or 2 . The primary endpoint , time to relapse during double-blind treatment , defined as > or = 2 full symptom panic attacks per week for 2 consecutive weeks or discontinuation due to loss of effectiveness , was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis . The study was conducted between December 2001 and August 2003 . RESULTS The intent-to-treat population had 291 patients in the open-label phase and 169 in the double-blind phase  ( placebo , N = 80 ; venlafaxine ER , N = 89 ; mean daily dose 165 - 171 mg ) . Time to relapse was significantly longer with venlafaxine ER than placebo ( p < .001 ) . All secondary measures of panic attack treatment efficacy , quality of life , and disability were significantly better with venlafaxine ER than placebo ( p < or = .005 ) . CONCLUSION Venlafaxine ER was safe , well tolerated , and effective in preventing relapse in out patients with panic disorder
These drugs were better tolerated than tricyclics and benzodiazepines as they had a low risk of dependence and overdosing complications .
The serotonergic , noradrenergic and GABAergic pathways play a major role in the fear network and in the physiopathology of PD .
INTRODUCTION Panic disorder ( PD ) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder characterized by unexpected and recurrent panic attacks .
PD patients present significant psychosocial impairment and a high risk of psychiatric comorbidities and suicide .
PD should be treated effectively as soon as the symptoms emerge because the longer these patients remain without treatment , the worse the prognosis will be .
SSRIs and SNRIs are the first-line compounds in the treatment of PD .