Source: Lancet  |  Posted 8 years ago

Fluoxetine is useful in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders, research in the United States indicates.

Investigators, led by Dr. Boris Birmaher from the department of child psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, assessed the efficacy and tolerability of the drug in 74 children aged from 7 to 17 years.

Participants had significant functional impairment because of generalised anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder and/or social phobia. They were randomised to receive either 20 milligrams per day of fluoxetine or placebo for 12 weeks.

"Fluoxetine was effective in reducing the anxiety symptoms and improving functioning in all measures," the researchers report. In intent-to-treat analysis, 61% of the 37 children taking fluoxetine and 35% of the 37 on placebo showed much to very much improvement. A substantial number of participants remained symptomatic, however, the researchers add.

Except for mild, transient headache and gastrointestinal side effects, fluoxetine was well tolerated.

Two factors predicted poorer functioning at study end: severity of anxiety at intake and positive family history of anxiety.

The investigators say further studies on treatment optimisation for full remission of anxiety and length of therapy required to prevent recurrence are warranted.