Condition

Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder

359M
People Affected
60
Active Trials
28.7M
New Cases/Year
800
Deaths/Year

Treatment Rankings

Ranked by evidence volume first. Medicine has spent centuries ranking things by vibes. This is an improvement.

1
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
85% Effectiveness• 95% Confidence• 95% Safety• 1271 trials• 35K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 1-2 hour sessions weekly
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
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95
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

8-12 weeks

Duration

8-20 weekly sessions

Response Rate

60%

Remission Rate

40%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

3

Common Side Effects:

Temporary discomfort during exposure exercises: 10%
Emotional fatigue after sessions: 15%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$0

Monitoring

$400

Side Effects

$0

Total Annual

$400

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.3

ICER

$15,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$5,000

Cost per Responder

$3,333

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
GAD-7 Score (Anxiety Severity)16/21 (moderate-severe anxiety)
-43.75% (-7 points)
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Score28/56 (moderate-severe anxiety)
-42.86% (-12 points)
Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S) Score4/7 (moderately ill)
-37.5% (-1.5 points)
Secondary Benefits
PHQ-9 Score (Depressive Symptoms)11/27 (mild-moderate depression)
-45.45% (-5 points)
SF-36 Mental Health Component Summary (MCS) Score40/100 (impaired mental health quality of life)
+20% (+8 points)
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Score18/30 (moderate functional impairment)
-38.89% (-7 points)
Common Side Effects
Temporary discomfort during exposure exercises
+10%
Emotional fatigue after sessions
+15%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
2
Sertraline (SSRI)
75% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 60% Safety• 250 trials• 40K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood ValueDose: 50-200mg daily
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
60
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-4 weeks

Duration

6-12 months, often longer

Response Rate

60%

Remission Rate

35%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

5

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

10

Common Side Effects:

Nausea: 20%
Diarrhea: 15%
Insomnia: 12%
Sexual dysfunction: 30%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$300

Monitoring

$200

Side Effects

$100

Total Annual

$600

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

0.25

ICER

$45,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$1,714

Cost per Responder

$1,000

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+75%
Response Rate
+60%
Remission Rate
+35%
Common Side Effects
Nausea
+20%
Diarrhea
+15%
Insomnia
+12%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
3
Venlafaxine (SNRI)
75% Effectiveness• 88% Confidence• 60% Safety• 4 trials• 30K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood ValueDose: 75-225mg daily
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
60
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-4 weeks

Duration

6-12 months, often longer

Response Rate

55%

Remission Rate

30%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

6

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

9

Common Side Effects:

Nausea: 25%
Dizziness: 15%
Sweating: 18%
Sexual dysfunction: 25%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$400

Monitoring

$200

Side Effects

$120

Total Annual

$720

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

0.23

ICER

$55,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$2,400

Cost per Responder

$1,309

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) ScoreHAM-A score: 28/56
-43% (-12 points)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale ScoreGAD-7 score: 18/21
-44% (-8 points)
Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S) ScoreCGI-S score: 4.8/7
-31% (-1.5 points)
Secondary Benefits
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Total ScoreSDS score: 18/30
-39% (-7 points)
Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire - Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) ScoreQ-LES-Q-SF score: 38/100
+42% (+16 points)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) ScorePSQI score: 14/21
-29% (-4 points)
Common Side Effects
Nausea
+25%
Dizziness
+15%
Sweating
+18%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
4
Duloxetine (SNRI)
72% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 60% Safety• 3 trials• 20K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood ValueDose: 30-120mg daily
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
60
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-4 weeks

Duration

6-12 months, often longer

Response Rate

50%

Remission Rate

28%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

7

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

11

Common Side Effects:

Nausea: 20%
Dry mouth: 15%
Constipation: 10%
Insomnia: 10%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$450

Monitoring

$200

Side Effects

$100

Total Annual

$750

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

0.22

ICER

$60,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$2,679

Cost per Responder

$1,500

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
HAM-A (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) scoreHAM-A score: 26/56
-46.15% (-12 points)
GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) scoreGAD-7 score: 18/21
-50% (-9 points)
CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression - Severity) scoreCGI-S score: 4.5/7
-33.33% (-1.5 points)
Secondary Benefits
SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) scoreSF-36 MCS score: 38/100
+26.32% (+10 points)
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) total scoreSDS total score: 18/30
-38.89% (-7 points)
MADRS (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) scoreMADRS score: 22/60
-45.45% (-10 points)
Common Side Effects
Nausea
+20%
Dry mouth
+15%
Constipation
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
5
Buspirone
60% Effectiveness• 80% Confidence• 65% Safety• 16 trials• 10K participants
MODERATE EvidenceGood ValueDose: 15-60mg daily in divided doses
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
65
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-4 weeks

Duration

Long-term, as needed

Response Rate

45%

Remission Rate

20%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

9

Common Side Effects:

Dizziness: 10%
Nausea: 8%
Headache: 6%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$200

Monitoring

$150

Side Effects

$50

Total Annual

$400

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

0.15

ICER

$38,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$2,000

Cost per Responder

$889

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
HAM-A Score (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale)22/56 points
-36% (-8 points)
GAD-7 Score (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale)16/21 points
-38% (-6 points)
CGI-S Score (Clinical Global Impression - Severity)4.5/7 points
-33% (-1.5 points)
Secondary Benefits
SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) Score37/100 points
+19% (+7 points)
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) Score19/28 points
-32% (-6 points)
Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) Score22/40 points
-32% (-7 points)
Common Side Effects
Dizziness
+10%
Nausea
+8%
Headache
+6%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
6
Alprazolam (Benzodiazepine)
80% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 45% Safety• 35 trials• 15K participants
HIGH EvidenceModerate ValueDose: 0.25-4mg daily in divided doses
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
45
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Immediate

Duration

Short-term (2-4 weeks) or PRN

Response Rate

70%

Remission Rate

25%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

3

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

5

Common Side Effects:

Sedation: 40%
Dizziness: 25%
Dependence/Withdrawal: 30%
Cognitive impairment: 15%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$150

Monitoring

$100

Side Effects

$300

Total Annual

$550

Cost-Effectiveness

MODERATE

QALYs Gained

0.1

ICER

$110,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$2,200

Cost per Responder

$786

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Score25/56
-45% (-11.25 points)
Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S) Score5 (Markedly Ill) / 7
-40% (-2 points (e.g., from Markedly Ill to Mildly Ill))
Patient-Rated Global Anxiety Severity (0-10 Scale)7/10
-40% (-2.8 points)
Secondary Benefits
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Score14/21
-30% (-4.2 points)
Frequency of Panic Attacks (per week)4 attacks/week
-75% (-3 attacks/week)
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Total Score21/30
-35% (-7.35 points)
Common Side Effects
Sedation
+40%
Dizziness
+25%
Dependence/Withdrawal
+30%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4