Sertraline in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Efficacy in Treating the Psychic and Somatic Anxiety Factors

Overview

Journal Acta Psychiatr Scand

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2005 May 10

PMID 15877709

Citations 9

Authors

A A Dahl

A Ravindran

C Allgulander

S P Kutcher

C Austin

T Burt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to study the efficacy of sertraline on symptoms of psychic and somatic anxiety in patients suffering from moderate-to-severe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Method: Out-patients with DSM-IV GAD were randomized to 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with placebo. The psychic and somatic anxiety factors of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Quality of Life, Enjoyment, and Satisfaction Questionnaire were analyzed.

Results: Treatment with sertraline resulted in significantly greater last observation carried forward (LOCF)-endpoint improvement than placebo on both the HAM-A psychic and somatic anxiety factors. At LOCF-endpoint, all items on the HAM-A psychic factor were more improved on sertraline than placebo, as were three of seven items on the somatic factor. Reduction of secondary depressive symptoms was more correlated with endpoint improvement in quality of life than either psychic- or somatic anxiety.

Conclusion: Sertraline treatment demonstrated efficacy for both the psychic and somatic anxiety symptoms of GAD.

Citing Articles

Antidepressants versus placebo for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Kopcalic K, Arcaro J, Pinto A, Ali S, Barbui C, Curatoli C Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025; 1:CD012942.

PMID: 39880377 PMC: 11779548. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012942.pub2.

Disrupted functional connectivity associated with cognitive impairment in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and comorbid GAD and depression: a follow-up fMRI study.

Han Y, Yan H, Shan X, Li H, Liu F, Li P J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2023; 48(6):E439-E451.

PMID: 37935477 PMC: 10635709. DOI: 10.1503/jpn.230091.

Efficacy of venlafaxine extended release in major depressive disorder patients: effect of baseline anxiety symptom severity.

Lyndon G, Prieto R, Wajsbrot D, Allgulander C, Bandelow B Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019; 34(3):110-118.

PMID: 30870236 PMC: 6445597. DOI: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000256.

The Effect of Sertraline on the Quality of Life for Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorder.

Memik N, Karakaya I, Yildiz O, Sismanlar S, Caglayan C, Agaoglu B Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2017; 51(1):30-39.

PMID: 28360592 PMC: 5370260. DOI: 10.4274/npa.y6565.

Efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram in treatment of major depressive disorder with anxiety symptoms: a 24-week, open-label, prospective study in Chinese population.

Jiang K, Li L, Wang X, Fang M, Shi J, Cao Q Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017; 13:515-526.

PMID: 28255239 PMC: 5322850. DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S120190.