EFFECT OF FLUVOXAMINE ON PANIC DISORDER

Several reports suggest that selective serotonin reuptake blockers are helpful in the treatment of panic disorder. The aim of the study was to compare fluvoxamine with placebo in 50 panic disorder patients by u sing an 8-week, double-blind, parallel-groups design. Weekly assessmen t included a panic attack diary (frequency and severity), the Montgome ry-Asberg Depression Scale, the Clinical Anxiety Scale, and the Sheeha n Disability Scale. Although both groups improved on all measures, the fluvoxamine group experienced significantly less frequent major panic attacks from the third week on and significantly lower ratings on anx iety, depression, and disability from the sixth week on. Mean ratings of the severity of major and the severity and frequency of minor attac ks were not affected differently by fluvoxamine and placebo. At the en d of the study, significantly more patients on fluvoxamine were free o f major and minor panic attacks. The results indicate that: (1) the ad ministration of fluvoxamine, as compared with placebo, led to a signif icant reduction in the number of panic attacks. (2) The severity of pa nic attacks was not affected by fluvoxamine. (3) The effect of fluvoxa mine on anxiety, depressive mood, and disability differed from placebo only after 6 weeks of treatment, after which the placebo group showed either no further improvement or a reversal of symptoms. (4) Particip ation in a drug study, even without additional psychotherapy, led to s ignificant improvement in all patients.