The control research of escitalopram vs venlafaxine XR. on the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

AIM: To observe the efficacy and safety of escitalopram and venlafaxine on the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) patients.METHODS: 74 patients who met the ICD-10 criteria for GAD were divided into escitalopram group(n=38) and venlafaxine group(n=36) randomly.The trial lasted 8 weeks.The anxiety status and efficacy was evaluated with HAMA at the baseline,1st,2th,4th and 8th weekend respectively while the depression status was evaluated by HAMD,and the safety was evaluated by TESS and laboratory examination.RESULTS:The HAMA scores of both group declined significantly by the end of 1st week(P0.01),and the reduction of HAMA scores in the escitalopram group were larger than those in venlafaxine group at the end of 1st,2th and 4th weekend(P0.05),while there were no significant difference between the two groups at the end of 8th weekend(P0.05).There were significant difference within the remission rate 60.5% vs 66.7%,and response rate 78.9% vs 86.1% between the two groups(P0.01).The HAMD scores decreased significantly after 8 weeks treatment in both groups(P0.01).The side effects of both groups had no significant difference(P0.05).CONCLUSION: Either escitalopram or venlafaxine would be effective for GAD,but it seemed that venlafaxine was more effective than escitalopram,and escitalopram responses faster,while the safety was similar.