Pharmacopsychiatry 2007; 40(4): 152-156
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-984398
Original Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag KG

Improvement of Quality of Life in Panic Disorder with Escitalopram, Citalopram, or Placebo

B. Bandelow 1 , D. J. Stein 2 , 5 , O. T. Dolberg 3 , H. F. Andersen 3 , D. S. Baldwin 4
  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
  • 2MRC Unit on Anxiety Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  • 3H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 4Clinical Neuroscience Division, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
  • 5Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received 02.02.2007 revised 08.05.2007

accepted 21.05.2007

Publication Date:
10 August 2007 (online)

Abstract

Background: It has been argued that measurement of outcome in panic disorder should not be limited to monitoring the number of panic attacks, but should include all domains that affect patient quality of life.

Methods: Data from a randomized prospective comparison of escitalopram, citalopram, and placebo in patients with DSM-IV panic disorder were analyzed with regard to measurements of impairment of quality of life. The subscales of the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (P&A) (Panic Attacks, Agoraphobic Avoidance, Anticipatory Anxiety, Functional and Social Disability, and Worries about Health) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) were analyzed.

Results: Treatment with escitalopram was associated with significant improvement on all 5 subscales of the P&A. Citalopram was significantly different from placebo in 3 subscales. Escitalopram and citalopram were significantly better than placebo in improving quality of life (measured by the total score of the Q-LES-Q Scale). Escitalopram was superior to placebo on 12 of 16 items of the Q-LES-Q, while citalopram was superior on 7 items.

Conclusion: The P&A scale was more robust than measurement of panic frequency in differentiating medication from placebo. Escitalopram treatment was associated with improvement on all assessed domains that impair quality of life in panic disorder. Measurement of clinical improvement should not be solely based on panic attack frequency, but should also include assessment of a broad range of domains that affect patient quality of life.

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Correspondence

Prof. Dr. B. Bandelow

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

University of Göttingen

von-Siebold-Str. 5

37085 Göttingen

Germany

Phone: +49/551/39 66 07

Fax: +49/551/39 20 04

Email: Sekretariat-Bandelow@medizin.uni-goettingen.de