Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of trazodone versus alprazolam for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods After the third day of a three-day screening period, 60 patients with generalized anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to the trazodone group (30 patients, 50-150 mg/d), and alprazolam group (30 patients 1.2-4 mg/d) for 4 weeks. Patients and their doctors were blind. Data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 and intention-to-treat analysis. Results The total effective rate of trazodone was 77% (23/30), while alprazolam was 70% (21/30) (Pgt;0.05) .No difference was seen for adverse events. None was lost to follow in the two groups. Conclusions Trazodone appears to be as effective as alprazolam in treating generalized anxiety disorder. Adverse events may include confusion and loss of appetite, but patients are able to tolerate these.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the predictors of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among teachers in 3 months after Lushan earthquake. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted to diagnostically evaluate the psychological sequelae and GAD during 14-20 days and 85-95 days after the earthquake. The possible predictive factors of psychological sequelae were assessed by a self-made questionnaire and the GAD was assessed by the GAD symptom criterion of M.I.N.I. in 3 months. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis (ULRA, MLRA) were applied to analyze the predictors of GAD after the two-staged assessments. ResultsThere were a total of 319 teachers completed the two-staged assessments. The total response rate was 51.3%. Seventy teachers were diagnosed as GAD and the prevalence of GAD in 3 months was 21.9%. The predictive factors by ULRA included:male, older than 35 years old, having unlivable house, living in tents, sleeping difficulties, easy to feel sad, physical discomfort, loss of appetite, feeling short of social support, unable to calm down for working, feeling difficult for teaching, observing more inattention of students, and wanting to ask for a leave. The independent predictors by MLRA included:male, having unlivable house, feeling short of social support, and feeling difficult for teaching. ConclusionThe teachers have a higher likelihood of GAD after earthquake. It is essential to pay more attention to those male teachers, who feel short of social support and don't have a livable house thus to prevent the GAD at the early stage of post-earthquake.