Sertraline in the Treatment of Panic Disorder

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
PANIC DISORDER is a common illness with a typically chronic course and substantial attendant morbidity and disability.1-4 A number of psychopharmacological agents, as well as cognitive-behavioral therapies, have demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of patients with panic disorder.5,6 Increasing clinical experience, as well as a consensus of expert clinical researchers,7 has encouraged the use of serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as first-line treatments for panic disorder because of a generally favorable side-effect profile and broad spectrum of efficacy.8 To date, this clinical opinion has been supported by results of double-blind trials demonstrating the effectiveness of paroxetine9,10 and fluvoxamine maleate11-13 for panic disorder. In addition, results from a multicenter, fixed-dose study demonstrated a significant reduction in panic frequency for sertraline hydrochloride relative to placebo.14 Sertraline is a potent SSRI that has established efficacy in the treatment of depression,15 obsessive-compulsive disorder,16 and the prevention of depression relapse.17 The lack of major anticholinergic, α-adrenergic, or cardiotoxic effects and the absence of marked induction of physiological dependence represents a potential therapeutic advantage for SSRIs such as sertraline18 over the tricyclic antidepressants or benzodiazepines used to treat panic disorder.