Effects of Escitalopram on Anxiety in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
10.9758/cpn.2017.15.2.126
- Author:
Hee Ju KANG
1
;
Kyung Yeol BAE
;
Sung Wan KIM
;
Il Seon SHIN
;
Young Joon HONG
;
Youngkeun AHN
;
Myung Ho JEONG
;
Jin Sang YOON
;
Jae Min KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. jmkim@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Randomized Controlled Trial ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Acute coronary syndrome;
Anxiety;
Depression;
Escitalopram;
Double-blind study
- MeSH:
Acute Coronary Syndrome*;
Anxiety Disorders;
Anxiety*;
Citalopram*;
Depression;
Depressive Disorder;
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
Double-Blind Method;
Humans;
Risk Factors
- From:Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
2017;15(2):126-131
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: There are no evidence-based practices for treating anxiety in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Thus, we investigated the effects of escitalopram on anxiety in this population. METHODS: We enrolled 217 patients with ACS who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria for depressive disorders into a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Patients received either escitalopram or placebo over a 24-week period. Anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety subscale (HADS-A). A HADS-A score >7 was classified as an anxiety disorder. Baseline evaluations included sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, such as depressive symptoms, cardiovascular risk factors, and current cardiac status. RESULTS: Independent of improvements in depression and without any differences in safety profiles, escitalopram treatment was significantly more efficacious in treating and reducing anxiety than placebo over a 24-week period. CONCLUSION: Escitalopram can be recommended as an effective and safe treatment option for anxiety in patients with ACS.
