Surreptitious drug use by patients in a panic disorder study

Am J Psychiatry. 1990 Apr;147(4):507-9. doi: 10.1176/ajp.147.4.507.

Abstract

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing alprazolam and imipramine for panic disorder, serum analysis revealed that a substantial proportion of the patients took explicitly prohibited anxiolytic medication. Excluding these patients changed the results.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alprazolam / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / standards
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fear*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imipramine / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Panic*
  • Patient Compliance
  • Placebos
  • Self Medication*

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Placebos
  • Imipramine
  • Alprazolam