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A placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Connor, KM; Davidson, JRT
Published in: Int Clin Psychopharmacol
July 2002

We assessed the efficacy and safety of a botanical anxiolytic, Kava kava (Piper methysticum), in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Thirty-seven adults with DSM-IV GAD were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of double-blind treatment with kava or a matching placebo. Weekly efficacy assessments [Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Self Assessment of Resilience and Anxiety (SARA)] and safety evaluations were conducted. Improvement was observed with both treatments but no differences were found in the principal analysis. Post-hoc analyses revealed significant differences based on baseline anxiety severity, whereby kava was superior on the SARA in low anxiety and placebo was superior on the HADS and SARA in high anxiety. Both treatments were well tolerated. Although kava was not superior to placebo, it would be premature to rule it out as efficacious in GAD.

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Published In

Int Clin Psychopharmacol

DOI

ISSN

0268-1315

Publication Date

July 2002

Volume

17

Issue

4

Start / End Page

185 / 188

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Phytotherapy
  • Outpatients
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Kava
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Double-Blind Method
 

Citation

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Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. T. (2002). A placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorder. Int Clin Psychopharmacol, 17(4), 185–188. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004850-200207000-00005
Connor, K. M., and J. R. T. Davidson. “A placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorder.Int Clin Psychopharmacol 17, no. 4 (July 2002): 185–88. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004850-200207000-00005.
Connor KM, Davidson JRT. A placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorder. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2002 Jul;17(4):185–8.
Connor, K. M., and J. R. T. Davidson. “A placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorder.Int Clin Psychopharmacol, vol. 17, no. 4, July 2002, pp. 185–88. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/00004850-200207000-00005.
Connor KM, Davidson JRT. A placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorder. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2002 Jul;17(4):185–188.

Published In

Int Clin Psychopharmacol

DOI

ISSN

0268-1315

Publication Date

July 2002

Volume

17

Issue

4

Start / End Page

185 / 188

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Phytotherapy
  • Outpatients
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Kava
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Double-Blind Method