Continuing treatment of panic disorder after acute response: randomised, placebo-controlled trial with fluoxetine. The Fluoxetine Panic Disorder Study Group.

<bold>Background: </bold>Data concerning appropriate treatment in panic disorder following an initial response to acute therapy are limited.<bold>Aims: </bold>To assess the safety and efficacy of continued fluoxetine treatment following successful acute therapy of panic disorder.<bold>Method: </bold>Patients who responded to acute fluoxetine treatment were randomised to 24 weeks of continued fluoxetine or placebo.<bold>Results: </bold>Fluoxetine responders randomised to continue on their acute-phase fluoxetine dose experienced statistically significant improvement in panic attack frequency and phobia rating scale score over 24 weeks of therapy, while those switched to placebo experienced statistically significant worsening in Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) and SCL-90-R rating scores.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Fluoxetine was associated with improved clinical outcomes compared with placebo during continuation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]