In this double-blind study, 56 adult psychoneurotic outpatients with a
primary diagnosis of anxiety neurosis were randomly assigned to receive
buspirone (N = 18), diazepam (N = 20), or placebo (N = 18) over a four-
week period. A battery of tests administered weekly indicated that
buspirone, a new agent not chemically related to any currently marketed
drugs, was as effective an antianxiety agent as diazepam and produced no
more and perhaps fewer side effects. Buspirone showed excellent
antidepressant effects as well. If further studies confirm the authors'
findings and determine that buspirone does not result in tolerance and
addiction, it would be more advantageous than the benzodiazepines in the
treatment of anxiety.Abstract Teaser