Background: The development of effective and well-tolerated anxiolytic agents is an area of critical clinical importance. Abecarnil, a beta carboline, is a partial benzodiazepine-receptor agonist that has demonstrated promise as an anxiolytic agent. In this study, we examine the efficacy, safety, and discontinuation-related effects of abecarnil, buspirone, and placebo in the acute and long-term treatment of patients who have generalized anxiety disorder.
Method: This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of two dosages of abecarnil and buspirone. In total, 464 patients were randomized. After a placebo run-in week, patients entered a 6-week double-blind treatment period, followed by an optional 18-week maintenance period for treatment responders. After abrupt discontinuation of the acute or maintenance treatment, patients entered a 3-week placebo-substitution follow-up period. Treatment response was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Scale.
Results: Compared with placebo, abecarnil showed significant anxiolytic activity early in the treatment period, particularly in the high-dosage group, though these differences did not maintain statistical significance at the end of the trial. Buspirone was associated with a slower onset of action and better symptom relief than placebo after 6 weeks of therapy. Withdrawal symptoms emerged in patients who abruptly discontinued abecarnil (particularly at the higher dosage) only in those receiving a longer duration of treatment.
Conclusion: The results of this study need to be understood in the context of a high placebo-response rate, which hampers the ability to demonstrate significant drug-placebo differences. This study suggests that abecarnil may be an effective anxiolytic agent; further attention is warranted to assess its spectrum of clinical effectiveness.