Relief of anxiety and related emotions in patients with gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

Diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorder with significant anxiety overlay was the basis for selecting 52 subjects for a double-blind study of adjunctive administration of diazepam versus placebo, conjointly with propantheline bromide. Random division of subjects resulted in well matched groups with respect to age, sex, weight and initial symptomatology. Greater relief of anxiety and related symptoms was obtained from treatment with diazepam than with placebo. Mean global ratings indicated progressive improvement in all patients, with greater effects among diazepam-treated subjects by the end of the first week of test medication. The most commonly encountered side effects were dryness of mouth (attributed to the anticholinergic agent) and drowsiness (affecting 8 subjects on diazepam and 1 on placebo); in no case was a side effect so severe that trial medication had to be discontinued.