Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of ketazolam in anxiety

Ketazolam, a new, long-acting benzodiazepine, was compared to placebo in a four-week double-blind study in 77 psychiatric outpatients with moderate to severe anxiety. The average optimum dose of ketazolam was 58.6 mg (range, 25 to 125 mg) given in a single bedtime dose. Fifteen patients in the placebo group (41%) dropped out of the study, 12 because of ineffectiveness of the medication and 3 because of intolerable side effects. In the ketazolam group, 5 patients (13%) dropped out because of ineffectiveness of the medication. This difference between treatment groups was statistically significant. Ketazolam was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing symptomatology on 10 of 14 Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale categories and total scores, the Physician's and Patient's Global Impressions, and the Patient's Self-Rating Symptom Scales. The average number of side effects per patient receiving ketazolam was less at every evaluation period than for patients receiving placebo.