Antidepressant medication augmented with cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder in older adults.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE Generalized anxiety disorder is common among older adults and leads to diminished health and cognitive functioning. Although antidepressant medications are efficacious, many elderly individuals require augmentation treatment. Furthermore, little is known about maintenance strategies for older people. The authors examined whether sequenced treatment combining pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) boosts response and prevents relapse in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder. METHOD Participants were individuals at least 60 years of age with generalized anxiety disorder (N=73) who were recruited from outpatient clinics at three sites. Participants received 12 weeks of open-label escitalopram and were then randomly assigned to one of four conditions: 16 week

SUBMITTER: Wetherell JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4090227 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature