Sertraline in the treatment of anxiety disorders

Sertraline was first developed and approved for the treatment of depression. However, considerable research has been conducted on its use in anxiety disorders. This paper reviews the data emerging from controlled and open trials of the use of sertraline in anxiety disorders. Sertraline has been tested extensively in the treatment of panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Less extensive testing has been completed on social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder. The reviewed studies show that sertraline is an effective and well-tolerated treatment of all of these disorders. A comparison of sertraline with other pharmacotherapeutic options shows it to be at least equivalent to other medications for anxiety disorders. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.