Assessment of Withania somnifera root extract efficacy in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Fuladi et al. (2020) investigated W. somnifera root extract on its therapeutic potential in reducing standard generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms (Withania somnifera is a plant with GABAergic property responsible for its anxiolytic effect). The sample group included 40 patients who were diagnosed with GAD and were taking Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs, a class of antidepressants). The participants were then randomized to either receive one capsule of the extract or placebo per day for six weeks. Although the GAD symptom severity of the control group decreased during the course of the trial, there were greater reductions in Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) in the treatment group versus the control group (14 vs 8 units reduction, respectively). Moreover, there was a particularly significant difference in symptom severity between the second and sixth week in the treatment group. No adverse effect was reported during this trial. This study concludes that W. somnifera extract may be a safe and effective form of adjunctive therapy to SSRIs in generalized anxiety disorder. [NPID: Generalized, herbs, anxiety, herbal, disorder, Withania Somnifera]

Year: 2020

Reference: Fuladi, S., Emami, S. A., Mohammadpour, A. H., Karimani, A., Manteghi, A. A., & Sahebkar, A. (2021). Assessment of the Efficacy of Withania somnifera Root Extract in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo- Controlled Trial. Current reviews in clinical and experimental pharmacology, 16(2), 191–196. https://doi.org/10.2174/1574884715666200413120413