Rapid relief of anxiety in cancer patients with both alprazolam and placebo.

This study evaluated 36 cancer patients who were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted over a 4-week period to evaluate the efficacy of alprazolam in the treatment of anxiety associated with cancer. Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores declined significantly between baseline and the end of the first week of the study in both treatment groups. There was no significant difference in response between the patients receiving alprazolam and placebo. Similar results were obtained from other instruments. These results suggest that nondrug factors or spontaneous improvement may play a more important role than pharmacotherapy in the treatment of anxiety associated with cancer.