Review confirms that antidepressants reduce anxiety, but long-term impact remain unclear

Review confirms that antidepressants reduce anxiety, but long-term impact remain unclear


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A new cochrane review confirms that antidepressants effectively reduce symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Under Trial Conditions, ALTHALTHATION THETAL CONDITIONS, ALTHOGH THE ALTHUNOUGH THE ALTHARAL CONDITES The review was published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,

Gad affects millions of people worldwide and is characterized by excessive worry about everyday issues. Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (Snris), ARECOGNIZED TREATMENTES ES Including the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,

However, misconceptions remain among some health care professionals and patients who do not realize that ‘antidepressants’ have wider uses beyond depression, while the term also carries stigma for many people.

The review analyzed 37 randomized controlled trials with over 12,000 participants, Comparing Antidepressants to a placebo. Most Trials Were Primarily Conducted In High-Income Countries, Including The United States of America and Various European Countries, and Recruited Adults of BOTH Sexes. In Most Cases, there was slight more female participants (~ 60%), which reflects the clinical prevalence of gad.

Results showed that antidepressants were more effective than placebo in reduction anxiety symptoms, with a 41% higher response rate am among the message The review found no significant different rate in Dropout Rates Between Taking Antidepressants and That Taking A Placebo, Indicating that these medications are generally well-tolerated.

“The research shows that antidepressants are highly effective at treatment gad, at least in the specific circumstans seen in trials,” Says Senior Author Dr. Giuseppe Guaiiana, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Schoulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Wesern University, and Chief of Psychiatry at St St third.

“For people with generalized anxiety disorder and no other conditions, we have good evidence that antidepressants lead to clinically meaningful improvements over a one- to three-month period compared to placebo.

“We don’t have enoured Evidence to say how Effective they may be in patients with gad along Mental Health Conditions, So Future Trials Should Investigate the Effects of Different Treatment Strategies on Patients with Multiple Conditions. “

The review also highlights the Lack of Data on the long-term effects of antidepressants. Most Included Trials Lasted Between Four to 12 Weeks, with no long-term follow-up.

“We don’t have enough information on the potential long-term benefits and harms of antidepressants, even thought people often take them for years,” Say Eastern University. “This is an area that needs further exploration in future trials.”

Despite these Limitations, The review delivers a clear message: Antidepressants are effective for managing gad, particular for patients who do not respond well to non-pharmacologist. However, more independent, long-term research is needed to understand their full impact, especially in patients with multiple conditions.

More information:
Antidepressants Reduce anxiety, but long-term impact remain unchalear, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2025). Doi: 10.1002/14651858.cd012942.pub2

Provided by cochrane

Citation: Review confirms that antidepressants reduce anxiety, but long-term impact remain unclear (2025, January 29) retrieved 29 January 2025 from

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