Psychosomatics 1993; 34:324-332
Copyright © 1993 by Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH REPORTS |
Rapid relief of anxiety in cancer patients with both alprazolam and placebo
TG Wald, RG Kathol, R Noyes Jr, BT Carroll and GH Clamon
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
This study evaluated 36 cancer patients who were enrolled in a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted over a 4- week period to
evaluate the efficacy of alprazolam in the treatment of anxiety associated
with cancer. Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores declined significantly between
baseline and the end of the first week of the study in both treatment
groups. There was no significant difference in response between the
patients receiving alprazolam and placebo. Similar results were obtained
from other instruments. These results suggest that nondrug factors or
spontaneous improvement may play a more important role than pharmacotherapy
in the treatment of anxiety associated with cancer.
