A randomized controlled study of electroacupuncture combined with Paroxetine in treatment of patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Objective To investigate clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with Paroxetine in treatment of patients with generalized anxiety disorders. Methods Eighty- one cases with generalized anxiety disorders were randomly divided into study group( n = 40) and control group( n = 41). All patients received Paroxetine 20- 40 mg / d for6 weeks. Patients in study group also received electroacupuncture for 6 weeks. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale( HAMA)was used to evaluate the severity of anxiety before treatment and at the end of the 1st,2nd,4thand 6thweek after treatment.Results The HAMA total score was significantly reduced after treatment in both groups( P 0. 05). There was no significant difference between 2 groups in pre- treatment HAMA total scores( 26. 08 ± 3. 23 vs 25. 56 ± 3. 13). Whereas the HAMA total scores in study group were significantly lower than those in control group at all time points after treatment except for at the end of the 6thweek( P 0. 05). And the reduction rates of HAMA total scores at all time points after treatment in study group were significantly greater than those in control group( P 0. 05). The remission rate at the end of the6 thweek in study group was significantly greater than that in control group( 65. 0% vs 41. 5%,P 0. 05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture combined with Paroxetine has greater efficacy,remission rate and faster onset than Paroxetine monotherapy in treating generalized anxiety disorders.