The effectiveness of drug therapy, relaxation and compound therapy on anxiety reduction, level of epinephrine and norepinephrine among patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Introduction: Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric diseases in need of allocating high levels of health care services. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of drug therapy and relaxation on anxiety reduction and epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 30 patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Participants were divided into three groups consisting of 10 patients and categorized as relaxation, drug therapy and combination therapy groups. Furthermore, another group involving 10 healthy individuals was formed as the control group. Instruments included Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventory and Hamilton’s Rating Scale. To measure the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body, a 24-hour urine test was performed. Data were analyzed through Pearson correlation test, paired t-test, one-way-ANOVA and Tukey test. Results: The results showed that relaxation therapy, drug therapy and combination therapy are significantly effective in reducing anxiety levels. But there were not significant differences between the three methods. In addition, there was a significant relationship between levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine and anxiety, and between treatment methods and reduction in the amount of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Conclusion: The results indicated that methods of relaxation and drug therapy and combination of them are effective on reduction of anxiety and epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in the body. So, relaxation can be used instead of anti-anxiety drugs having side effects on the body.