The Efficacy of Augment of D-Cycloserine and Cognitive-behavioral Therapy on Adolescent with one Type of Anxiety Disorders: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigating the effect of combining D-cycloserine (DCS) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on adolescent with at least one type of anxiety disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted as a double-blind randomized controlled trial on 36 adolescent with anxiety disorders. Patients were assessed in two groups. In addition to 4 sessions of weekly CBT in both groups; case group, received a 50-mg DCS capsules, control group, received Placebo daily for a month. Patients received DCS capsules or placebo 1 h before sessions of CBT. Age, sex, kind of anxiety disorders "screen for child anxiety related disorders (SCARED)" and "cognitive abilities test (CATS)" scores were evaluated and compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied patients (29 females (80.6) and 7 males (19.4)) was 14.1 +/- 1.8 years. The most frequent anxiety disorder among the study population was generalized social disorder (GAD) (77.7). Age, sex and the frequency of anxiety disorders were not statistically significant between the study groups (P > 0.05). The mean score of "SCARED" and "CATS" at before starting the treatment, after treatment and three month after the treatment were not statistically significant between groups (P > 0.05). Also, decrease in values of "SCARED" and "CATS" during the evaluation time periods was not statistically significant between groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study showed that there has been no difference in symptoms improvement in adolescent with anxiety disorder who received treatment protocol including 4 sessions of CBT, weekly, together with 50 mgs of DCS compared to the patients of the control group.