Monotherapy with quetiapine seems to be efficacious in reducing symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder and this effect may be similar to that of antidepressants .
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are common and disabling conditions , with a lifetime prevalence of 17 % in the general population .
Due to high rates of treatment resistance , there is interest in new pharmacological treatment options such as second-generation antipsychotics .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of second-generation antipsychotics as monotherapy or adjunctive treatment for people with anxiety disorders .
Extended-release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR): a once-daily monotherapy effective in generalized anxiety disorder. Data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled study.
The efficacy and tolerability of extended-release quetiapine fumarate ( quetiapine XR ) once-daily monotherapy in generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD ) was assessed . This multicentre , double-blind , r and omized , placebo- and active-controlled , phase III trial consisted of a 1- to 4-wk enrolment/wash-out period and a 10-wk ( 8-wk active treatment , 2-wk post-treatment drug-discontinuation ) study period ; 873 patients were r and omized to 50 mg or 150 mg quetiapine XR , 20 mg paroxetine , or placebo . Primary endpoint was change from r and omization at week 8 in Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety ( HAMA ) total score . At week 8 , all active agents produced significant improvements in HAMA total and psychic subscale scores vs. placebo ; HAMA somatic subscale scores were significantly reduced only by 150 mg quetiapine XR . Significant separation from placebo ( -2.90 ) in HAMA total score was observed at day 4 for 50 mg quetiapine XR ( -4.43 , p<0.001 ) and 150 mg quetiapine XR ( -3.86 , p<0.05 ) , but not for paroxetine ( -2.69 ) . Remission ( HAMA total score 7 ) rates at week 8 were significantly higher for 150 mg quetiapine XR ( 42.6 % , p<0.01 ) and paroxetine ( 38.8 % , p<0.05 ) vs. placebo ( 27.2 % ) . The most common adverse events ( AEs ) were dry mouth , somnolence , fatigue , dizziness , and headache , for quetiapine  XR , and nausea , headache , dizziness for paroxetine . A lower proportion of patients reported sexual dysfunction with quetiapine XR [ 0.9 % ( 50 mg ) , 1.8 % ( 150 mg ) ] than with placebo ( 2.3 % ) or paroxetine ( 7.4 % ) . The incidence of AEs potentially related to extrapyramidal symptoms was : quetiapine XR : 50 mg , 6.8 % , 150 mg , 5.0 % ; placebo , 1.8 % ; and paroxetine , 8.4 % . Once-daily quetiapine XR is an effective and generally well-tolerated treatment for patients with GAD , with symptom improvement seen as early as day 4
Monotherapy with quetiapine seems to be efficacious in reducing symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder and this effect may be similar to that of antidepressants .
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are common and disabling conditions , with a lifetime prevalence of 17 % in the general population .
Due to high rates of treatment resistance , there is interest in new pharmacological treatment options such as second-generation antipsychotics .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of second-generation antipsychotics as monotherapy or adjunctive treatment for people with anxiety disorders .