Double-blind clonazepam vs placebo in panic disorder treatment.

Author(s): Valenca AM, Nardi AE, Nascimento I, Mezzasalma MA, Lopes FL, Zin W

Affiliation(s): Laboratory of Panic & Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. avalen@uol.com.br

Publication date & source: 2000-12, Arq Neuropsiquiatr., 58(4):1025-9.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of clonazepam, in a fixed dose (2 mg/day), compared with placebo in the treatment of panic disorder patients. METHOD: 24 panic disorder patients with agoraphobia were randomly selected. The diagnosis was obtained using the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV. All twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned to either treatment with clonazepam (2 mg/day) or placebo, during 6 weeks. Efficacy assessments included: change from baseline in the number of panic attacks; CGI scores for panic disorder; Hamilton rating scale for anxiety; and panic associated symptoms scale. RESULTS: At the therapeutic endpoint, only one of 9 placebo patients (11.1%) were free of panic attacks, compared with 8 of 13 (61.5%) clonazepam patients (Fisher exact test; p=0,031). CONCLUSION: the results provide evidence for the efficacy of clonazepam in panic disorder patients.