Objective Generalized anxiety disorder is common among older adults and leads to
diminished health and cognitive functioning. Although antidepressant medications are
efficacious, many elderly individuals require augmentation treatment. Furthermore, little is
known about maintenance strategies for older people. The authors examined whether
sequenced treatment combining pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
boosts response and prevents relapse in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder …

… In this article, the investigators reviewed the efficacy data of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
augmentation of escitalopram pharmacotherapy from a randomized control trial (RCT) of
older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). … Results from this sequential study
of CBT augmentation of escitalopram pharmacotherapy from a RCT of older adults with
GAD support the use of CBT for patients, after starting a selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI), for augmentation and/or maintenance treatment. … Although small in size …