Surveyed physicians expect to increase use of combination therapy for generalized anxiety disorder in treatment-refractory patients

Surveyed physicians anticipate an increase in their use of combination therapy for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), says advisory firm Decision Resources. According to its new report entitled Treatment Algorithms in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, surveyed psychiatrists anticipate increased use of combination therapy will include atypical antipsychotics for treatment-refractory patients through 2012.

The report finds that serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and atypical antipsychotics will likely see the greatest growth in GAD patient share over the next two years. 55% of surveyed psychiatrists and 52% of surveyed primary care physicians say they are likely or very likely to increase their first-line use of SNRIs over the next two years. Meanwhile, 40% of surveyed psychiatrists and 42% of surveyed primary care physicians indicate they will likely increase their use of atypical antipsychotics as a class in first- or second-line therapy over the next two years.

"The majority of surveyed physicians expect to increase their use of combination therapy for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, particularly in treatment-refractory patients, and about 40% of surveyed physicians anticipate an increase in combination therapy in the first line," said Decision Resources analyst Amy Jassen. "Surveyed physicians expect that the use of benzodiazepines will decrease through 2012, owing largely to the potential for patients to become addicted to the medication. As a result, there is particular opportunity for therapies with a rapid onset of action and efficacy for somatic symptoms," she added.