Table 1.
Study characteristics.
| Authors | Year | N1 | Primary measure(s) | Secondary measure (s) |
Primary outcome2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaka et al. | 2014 | 291 | HAM-A | Duloxetine > PP | |
| Aliyev et al. | 2008 | 74 | HAM-A | Depakine-chrono > PP | |
| Allgulander et al. | 2001 | 268 | HAM-A | Venlafaxine (37.5 mg) > PP | |
| 260 | Venlafaxine (75 mg) > PP | ||||
| 261 | Venlafaxine (150 mg) > PP | ||||
| Allgulander et al. | 2004 | 370 | HAM-A | MADRS | Sertraline > PP |
| Bakhsani et al. | 2007 | 13 | BAI, HAM-A | Diazepam + tricyclic antidepressant > PP | |
| 13 | |||||
| CBT > PP | |||||
| Ball et al. | 2015 | 226 | HAM-A | Duloxetine > PP | |
| Barlow et al. | 1992 | 23 | HAM-A, STAI-T | BDI, HAM-D | CT > WL |
| 20 | Relaxation > WL | ||||
| 21 | CT + relaxation > WL | ||||
| Bidzan et al. | 2012 | 254 | HAM-A | Vortioxetine > PP | |
| Bonne et al. | 2003 | 44 | HAM-A, STAI-T | BDI, HAM-D | Homeopathic > PP |
| Borkovec et al. | 1987 | 30 | HAM-A, STAI-T | HAM-D | CT > Psych PL |
| Borkovec et al. | 1993 | 36 | HAM-A, PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI, HAM-D | AR > Psych PL |
| 38 | CBT > Psych PL | ||||
| Bowman et al. | 1997 | 35 | HAM-A, STAI-T | Self-examination therapy > WL | |
| Brawman-Mintzer et al. | 2006 | 326 | HAM-A | MADRS | Sertraline > PP |
| Brenes et al. | 2015 | 118 | HAM-A, PSWQ | BDI | Telephone CBT > Psych PL |
| Butler et al. | 1991 | 37 | BAI, HAM-A, STAI-T | BDI | BT > WL |
| 38 | CBT > WL | ||||
| Connor et al. | 2002 | 35 | HAM-A | Kava kava < PP | |
| Dahlin et al. | 2016 | 85 | BAI, PSWQ | MADRS, PHQ-9 | Internet acceptance BT > WL |
| Darcis et al. | 1995 | 110 | HAM-A | Hydroxyzine > PP | |
| Davidson et al. | 1999 | 191 | HAM-A | Buspirone > PP | |
| 185 | Venlafaxine (75 mg) > PP | ||||
| 185 | Venlafaxine(150 mg) > PP | ||||
| Davidson et al. | 2004 | 307 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Escitalopram > PP |
| Davidson et al. | 2008 | 70 | HAM-A | Duloxetine > PP | |
| Dugas et al. | 2003 | 52 | BAI, PSWQ | BDI | Group CBT > WL |
| Dugas et al. | 2010 | 42 | PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI-II | AR > WL |
| 43 | CBT > WL | ||||
| Durham et al. | 1994 | 30 | BAI, HAM-A, STAI-T | BDI | Analytic therapy high contact < Psych PL |
| 31 | |||||
| 31 | Analytic therapy low contact < Psych PL | ||||
| 36 | |||||
| CT high contact > Psych PL | |||||
| CT low contact > Psych PL | |||||
| Feltner et al. | 2003 | 130 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Lorazepam > PP |
| 135 | Pregbalin (150 mg) > PP | ||||
| 127 | Pregbalin (600 mg) > PP | ||||
| Gelenberg et al. | 2000 | 238 | HAM-A | Venlafaxine > PP | |
| Gommoll et al. | 2015 | 444 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Vilazodone (20 mg) > PP |
| 444 | Vilazodone (40 mg) > PP | ||||
| Hackett et al. | 2003 | 186 | HAM-A | Diazepam > PP | |
| 288 | Venlafaxine (75 mg) > PP | ||||
| 276 | Venlafaxine (150 mg) > PP | ||||
| Hartford et al. | 2007 | 323 | HAM-A | Duloxetine > PP | |
| 325 | Venlafaxine > PP | ||||
| Hoge et al. | 2013 | 89 | BAI, HAM-A | MBSR > Psych PL | |
| Hoyer et al. | 2009 | 57 | HAM-A, PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI, HAM-D | AR > WL |
| 58 | Worry exposure > WL | ||||
| Johnston et al. | 2011 | 85 | PSWQ | PHQ-9 | Clinician-guided iCBT > WL |
| 88 | Coach-guided iCBT > WL | ||||
| Jones et al. | 2016 | 41 | PSWQ-A | PHQ-9 | iCBT > WL |
| Kasper et al. | 2009 | 249 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Pregbalin > PP |
| 253 | Venlafaxine > PP | ||||
| Koszycki et al. | 2010 | 22 | BAI, HAM-A, PSWQ | BDI | CBT > Psych PL |
| Lader et al. | 1998 | 163 | HAM-A | MADRS | Buspirone > PP |
| 162 | Hydroxyzine > PP | ||||
| Ladoucer et al. | 2000 | 26 | BAI, PSWQ | BDI | CBT > WL |
| Leichsenring et al. | 2009 | 57 | BAI, HAM-A, PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI | CBT > Psych PL |
| Lenze et al. | 2009 | 177 | HAM-A, PSWQ | HAM-D | Escitalopram > PP |
| Levy Berg et al. | 2009 | 61 | BAI | Affect-Focused Psychotherapy > TAU | |
| Linden et al. | 2005 | 72 | HAM-A, STAI-T | CBT Group A > Psych PL | |
| 72 | CBT Group B > Psych PL | ||||
| Llorca et al. | 2002 | 196 | HAM-A | Hydroxyzine > PP | |
| Mahableshwarkar et al. | 2014 | 303 | HAM-A | Duloxetine > PP | |
| 308 | Vortioxetine (2.5 mg) > PP | ||||
| 302 | Vortioxetine (5 mg) > PP | ||||
| 308 | Vortioxetine (10 mg) > PP | ||||
| Mohlman et al. a | 2003 | 15 | STAI-T | BDI | Enhanced CBT > WL |
| Mohlman et al. b | 2003 | 21 | BAI | BDI | Standard CBT > WL |
| Moller et al. | 2001 | 207 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Alprazolam > PP |
| 205 | Opipramol > PP | ||||
| Montgomery et al. | 2006 | 266 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Pregbalin > PP |
| Pande et al. | 2003 | 126 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Lorazepam > PP |
| 132 | Pregbalin (150 mg) > PP | ||||
| 132 | Pregbalin (600 mg) > PP | ||||
| Park et al. | 2014 | 94 | HAM-A, PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI | Gamisoyo-San (Individual) > PP |
| 95 | Gamisoyo-San (Multi-Compound) > PP | ||||
| Paxling et al. | 2011 | 82 | BAI, PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI, MADRS | iCBT > WL |
| Pollack et al. | 2001 | 324 | HAM-A | Paroxetine > PP | |
| Pollack et al. a | 2008 | 425 | HAM-A | Tiagbine (4 mg) > PP | |
| 420 | Tiagbine (8 mg) > PP | ||||
| 421 | Tiagbine (12 mg) > PP | ||||
| Pollack et al. b | 2008 | 441 | HAM-A | Tiagbine > PP | |
| Pollack et al. c | 2008 | 438 | HAM-A | Tiagbine > PP | |
| Power et al. | 1990 | 21 | HAM-A | CBT > PP | |
| 21 | Diazepam > PP | ||||
| Power et al. | 1990 | 40 | HAM-A | CBT > PP | |
| 40 | Diazepam > PP | ||||
| Rezvan et al. | 2008 | 24 | PSWQ | CBT > WL | |
| 24 | CBT + IPT > WL | ||||
| Rickels et al. | 2000 | 182 | HAM-A | Venlafaxine (75 mg) > PP | |
| 177 | Venlafaxine (150 mg) > PP | ||||
| 182 | Venlafaxine (225 mg) > PP | ||||
| Rickels et al. | 2003 | 368 | HAM-A | Paroxetine (20 mg) > PP | |
| 377 | Paroxetine (40 mg) > PP | ||||
| Rickels et al. | 2005 | 173 | HAM-A | HAM-D | Alprazolam > PP |
| 174 | Pregbalin (300 mg) > PP | ||||
| 172 | Pregbalin (450 mg) > PP | ||||
| 170 | Pregbalin (600 mg) > PP | ||||
| Robinson et al. | 2010 | 95 | PSWQ | PHQ-9 | Clinician-guided iCBT > WL |
| 98 | Technician-guided iCBT > WL | ||||
| Roemer et al. | 2008 | 31 | PSWQ | BDI | ACT > WL |
| Rothschild et al. | 2012 | 289 | HAM-A | Vortioxetine < PP | |
| Sarris et al. | 2013 | 58 | BAI, HAM-A | Kava kava > PP | |
| Stanley et al. | 1996 | 31 | HAM-A, PSWQ, STAI-T | HAM-D | CBT < Psych PL |
| Stanley et al. a | 2003 | 64 | HAM-A, PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI, HAM-D | CBT > Psych PL |
| Stanley et al. b | 2003 | 9 | BAI, PSWQ | BDI | CBT > TAU |
| Stanley et al. | 2009 | 134 | HAM-A, PSWQ | BDI-II | CBT > TAU |
| Stein et al. | 2008 | 121 | HAM-A | Agomelatine > PP | |
| Stein et al. | 2014 | 233 | HAM-A | Agomelatine > PP | |
| 234 | Escitalopram > PP | ||||
| Stein et al. | 2017 | 270 | HAM-A | Agomelatine (10 mg) > PP | |
| 278 | Agomelatine (25 mg) > PP | ||||
| Titov et al. | 2009 | 35 | PSWQ | PHQ-9 | iCBT > WL |
| Titov et al. | 2010 | 34 | PSWQ | iCBT > WL | |
| Van der Heiden et al. | 2012 | 56 | PSWQ, STAI-T | BDI-II | Intolerance of uncertainty therapy > WL |
| 57 | |||||
| Metacognitive therapy > WL | |||||
| Wetherell et al. | 2003 | 39 | BAI, HAM-A, PSWQ | BDI, HAM-D | CBT > WL |
| 36 | CBT > Psych PL | ||||
| Wetherell et al. | 2009 | 31 | HAM-A, PSWQ | BDI-II | Modular psychotherapy > TAU |
| White et al. | 1992 | 42 | STAI-T | BDI | BT > WL |
| 37 | CBT > WL | ||||
| 42 | CT > WL | ||||
| 21 | Subconscious retraining > WL | ||||
| Wu et al. | 2011 | 210 | HAM-A | Duloxetine > PP | |
| Zinbarg et al. | 2007 | 18 | BAI, PSWQ | CBT > WL |
Abbreviations: ACT: acceptance and commitment therapy; AR: applied relaxation; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961); BDI-II: Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996); BT: behavior therapy; CBT: cognitive behavior therapy; CT: cognitive therapy; HAM-A: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; HAM-D: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Hamilton, 1960); iCBT: internet cognitive behavior therapy; IPT: interpersonal therapy; MADRS: Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (Montgomery & Asberg, 1979); MBSR: mindfulness-based stress reduction; PP: pill placebo; PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire—9 (Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001); PSWQ: Penn State Worry Questionnaire; PSWQ-A: Penn State Worry Questionnaire—Abbreviated; Psych PL: psychological placebo; STAI-T: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory—Trait; TAU: treatment as usual; WL: waitlist.