Paroxetine , sertraline , citalopram , escitalopram , and clomipramine showed the most consistent results , while fluvoxamine , fluoxetine , and imipramine showed limited efficacy .
Preliminary results suggested the potential efficacy of inositol ; D-cycloserine showed mixed results for its ability to improve the outcome of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy .
No studies have been specifically oriented toward evaluating the effect of drugs on AG ; in the available studies , the improvement of AG might have been the consequence of the reduction of panic attacks .
BACKGROUND Although there are controversial issues ( the " American view " and the " European view " ) regarding the construct and definition of agoraphobia ( AG ) , this syndrome is well recognized and it is a burden in the lives of millions of people worldwide .
To better clarify the role of drug therapy in AG , the authors summarized and discussed recent evidence on pharmacological treatments , based on clinical trials available from 2000 , with the aim of highlighting pharmacotherapies that may improve this complex syndrome .
Therapeutic response to benzodiazepine in panic disorder subtypes.
CONTEXT This study makes a comparison between two subtypes of panic disorder regarding the clinical efficacy of clonazepam , a benzodiazepine . OBJECTIVES To evaluate the clinical efficacy of clonazepam in a fixed dosage ( 2 mg/day ) , compared to placebo , in the treatment of panic disorder patients and to verify whether there are any differences in the responses to clonazepam between panic disorder patients with the respiratory and non-respiratory subtypes . TYPE OF STUDY R and omized study with clonazepam and placebo . SETTING Outpatient Anxiety and Depression Unit of the Institute of Psychiatry , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . PARTICIPANTS 34 patients with a diagnosis of panic disorder with agoraphobia , between 18 and 55 years old . PROCEDURES Administration of clonazepam or placebo for 6 weeks , in panic disorder patients , after they were classified within two subtypes of panic disorder : respiratory and non-respiratory . MAIN MEASUREMENTS Changes in the number of panic attacks in comparison with the period before the beginning of the study ; Hamilton Anxiety Scale ; Global Clinical Impression Scale ; and Patient 's Global Impression scale . RESULTS In the group that received clonazepam , by the end of the 6th week there was a statistically significant clinical improvement , shown by the remission of panic attacks ( p < 0.001 ) and decrease in anxiety ( p = 0.024 ) . In the group that received clonazepam there was no significant difference between the respiratory and non-respiratory subtypes of panic disorder , regarding the therapeutic response to clonazepam . CONCLUSION Clonazepam was equally effective in the treatment of the respiratory and non-respiratory subtypes of panic disorder , suggesting there is no difference in the therapeutic response between the two subtypes
Paroxetine , sertraline , citalopram , escitalopram , and clomipramine showed the most consistent results , while fluvoxamine , fluoxetine , and imipramine showed limited efficacy .
Preliminary results suggested the potential efficacy of inositol ; D-cycloserine showed mixed results for its ability to improve the outcome of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy .
No studies have been specifically oriented toward evaluating the effect of drugs on AG ; in the available studies , the improvement of AG might have been the consequence of the reduction of panic attacks .
BACKGROUND Although there are controversial issues ( the " American view " and the " European view " ) regarding the construct and definition of agoraphobia ( AG ) , this syndrome is well recognized and it is a burden in the lives of millions of people worldwide .
To better clarify the role of drug therapy in AG , the authors summarized and discussed recent evidence on pharmacological treatments , based on clinical trials available from 2000 , with the aim of highlighting pharmacotherapies that may improve this complex syndrome .