The efficacy of azapirones is uncertain due to the lack of meta-analysable data for the primary outcome and low- quality evidence for secondary efficacy outcomes .
A small amount of moderate- quality evidence suggested that the acceptability of azapirones for panic disorder was lower than for placebo .
If further research is to be conducted , studies with larger sample sizes , with different azapirones and with less risk of bias are necessary to draw firm conclusions regarding azapirones for panic disorder
BACKGROUND Panic disorder is common in the general population .
It is often associated with other psychiatric disorders , such as drug dependence , major depression , bipolar disorder , social phobia , specific phobia and generalised anxiety disorder .
Azapirones are a class of drugs used as anxiolytics .
They are associated with less drowsiness , psychomotor impairment , alcohol potentiation and potential for addiction or abuse than benzodiazepines .
However , azapirones are not widely used in the treatment of panic disorder and evidence for their efficacy is unclear .
It is important to find out if azapirones are effective and acceptable in the treatment of panic disorder .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of azapirones on panic disorder in adults , specifically:1 .
to determine the efficacy of azapirones in alleviating symptoms of panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo;2 .
to review the acceptability of azapirones in panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo ; and 3 .
to investigate adverse effects of azapirones in panic disorder with or without agoraphobia , including general prevalence of adverse effects , compared with placebo .
Anxiety in primary care: is short-term drug treatment appropriate?
Thirty-six patients with generalised anxiety disorder , panic disorder or agoraphobia with panic attacks , diagnosed by DSM-III criteria , were treated with a new non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety drug , buspirone , and with diazepam and placebo , in a cross-over design . Each patient took buspirone , diazepam and placebo for one week each in flexible dosage and balanced order . Ratings of symptomatology using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale were made after each week 's treatment and a sub-scale used for measuring anxiety change alone was used separately . There was no overall difference in efficacy between the drugs , but when the scores for individual symptoms were analysed , diazepam was significantly superior to the other treatments for the symptom of muscle tension only . The results suggest that the common practice of giving short-term therapy with tranquilising drugs for anxiety in primary care is pharmacologically suspect
The efficacy of azapirones is uncertain due to the lack of meta-analysable data for the primary outcome and low- quality evidence for secondary efficacy outcomes .
A small amount of moderate- quality evidence suggested that the acceptability of azapirones for panic disorder was lower than for placebo .
If further research is to be conducted , studies with larger sample sizes , with different azapirones and with less risk of bias are necessary to draw firm conclusions regarding azapirones for panic disorder
BACKGROUND Panic disorder is common in the general population .
It is often associated with other psychiatric disorders , such as drug dependence , major depression , bipolar disorder , social phobia , specific phobia and generalised anxiety disorder .
Azapirones are a class of drugs used as anxiolytics .
They are associated with less drowsiness , psychomotor impairment , alcohol potentiation and potential for addiction or abuse than benzodiazepines .
However , azapirones are not widely used in the treatment of panic disorder and evidence for their efficacy is unclear .
It is important to find out if azapirones are effective and acceptable in the treatment of panic disorder .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of azapirones on panic disorder in adults , specifically:1 .
to determine the efficacy of azapirones in alleviating symptoms of panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo;2 .
to review the acceptability of azapirones in panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo ; and 3 .
to investigate adverse effects of azapirones in panic disorder with or without agoraphobia , including general prevalence of adverse effects , compared with placebo .