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Meta-analysis of double-blind placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants and benzodiazepines for patients with panic disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Greg Wilkinson ,
Matteo Balestrieri ,
Mirella Ruggeri  and
Cesario Bellantuono
Greg Wilkinson*
Affiliation:
Academic Sub-department of Psychological Medicine, North Wales Hospital, Denbigh, Wales, Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Verona, Italy
Matteo Balestrieri
Affiliation:
Academic Sub-department of Psychological Medicine, North Wales Hospital, Denbigh, Wales, Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Verona, Italy
Mirella Ruggeri
Affiliation:
Academic Sub-department of Psychological Medicine, North Wales Hospital, Denbigh, Wales, Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Verona, Italy
Cesario Bellantuono
Affiliation:
Academic Sub-department of Psychological Medicine, North Wales Hospital, Denbigh, Wales, Servizio di Psicologia Medica, Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Verona, Italy
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Greg Wilkinson, Academic Sub-department of Psychological Medicine, North Wales Hospital, Denbigh, Clwyd, LL16 5SS, Wales, UK.
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Synopsis

Meta-analysis of 19 double-blind placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants (N = 13) and benzodiazepines (N = 6) for patients with panic disorders showed that active treatment had 25% greater success rate than placebo over a mean duration of 14 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences observed between treatment sub-groups (antidepressants – mean duration 16 weeks; and benzodiazepines – mean duration 7 weeks). On this basis antidepressants and benzodiazepines prescribed in clinical settings are likely to be equally effective in the short-term treatment of people with panic disorders.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , November 1991 , pp. 991 - 998
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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