PREDICTORS OF RESPONSE TO ALPRAZOLAM AND PLACEBO IN PATIENTS WITH PANIC DISORDER

Date from a panic disorder treatment study with 506 patients, comparin g alprazolam and placebo in a double-blind manner for 8 weeks, were an alyzed to identify demographic and clinical characteristics of the pat ients that might predict response to treatment. The strongest predicto rs of response to alprazolam were age over 40, and lower baseline leve ls of anxiety and phobic symptoms. Predictors of response to placebo w ere weaker and, in addition to lower levels anxiety and panic attacks, included a lack of previous psychiatric treatment.