Treatment of Panic Disorder: Focus on Paroxetine

Panic disorder is a chronic and disabling condition associated with significant morbidity. Treatment of panic disorder has evolved significantly in the past 20 years with the availability of serotonergic antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Of these, paroxetine was the first to receive an indication for treatment of panic disorder and has been extensively studied. A series of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of paroxetine in treating panic disorder, with a majority of patients achieving panic-free status during 12-week studies. Continued treatment with paroxetine results in sustained rates of remission compared with placebo. The combination of paroxetine and cognitive behavioral therapy appears to offer benefits in efficacy and sustained therapeutic response.