A Double-blind Trial of Oxypertine for Anxiety Neurosis

Abstract

Oxypertine is a new piperazine derivative, believed to have tranquillizing, antiadrenergic and hypotensive properties. Unpublished reports have suggested that it might be useful in chronic schizophrenia, although the recent study by Calwell et al. (1964) shows that its usefulness in this condition is limited. In view of its putative tranquillizing effect, the present clinical trial was undertaken to determine, under double-blind conditions, its efficacy as an adjunctive treatment for chronic anxiety neurosis. Ratings of anxiety symptoms were the major criteria for assessing the patients' progress, but the IPAT Anxiety Scale (Cattell and Scheier, 1957) was also included as a potentially useful measure of anxiety. An investigation of its validity was a subsidiary aim of the study.