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 .
Prevalence of psychiatric disorder in the general population: results of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS)
Abstract This article reports the initial results of a prospect i ve study on the prevalence of  psychiatric disorders in the Dutch population aged 18–64 . The objectives and the design of the study are described elsewhere in this issue . A total of 7076 people were interviewed in person in 1996 . The presence of the following disorders was determined by means of the CIDI : mood disorders , anxiety disorders , eating disorders , schizophrenia and other non-affective psychoses , and substance use disorders . Psychiatric disorders were found to be quite common . Some 41.2 % of the adult population under 65 had experienced at least one DSM-III-R disorder in their lifetime , among them 23.3 % within the preceding year . No gender differences were found in overall morbidity . Depression , anxiety , and alcohol abuse and dependence were most prevalent , and there was a high degree of comorbidity between them . The prevalence rate encountered for schizophrenia was lower ( 0.4 % lifetime ) than generally presumed . A comparison with findings from other countries is made . Relevant determinants of psychiatric morbidity were analysed
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 .