Fluvoxamine pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders in later life: Preliminary open-trial data

The authors present data from an open trial of fluvoxamine (median daily do sage: 200 mg) in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, panic disor der, and obsessive-compulsive disorder in 19 older outpatients (mean age 66 .8). Of the 12 subjects completing the 21-week trial, 8 achieved a good res ponse (50% reduction in symptom measures) and 7 were rated as much or very much improved. Fluvoxamine pharmacotherapy also had a significant effect in reducing comorbid depressive symptoms and in increasing levels of function ing. These data support the effectiveness of fluvoxamine in older subjects with anxiety disorders (particularly generalized anxiety disorder) and warr ant further double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation.