| Disease | EVALUATED THE EFFECTS OF KAVA IN 100 PATIENTS WITH MODERATED TO SEVERE ANXIETY DISORDERS (AVERAGE HAM-A SCORE, 30.7). THE STUDY MATCHED CONTROLS FOR TYPE AND SEVERITY OF ANXIETY, AGE, SEX, AND DISORDRE DURATION (MEAN, 6.5 MONTHS). THE KAVA
GROUP SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT AT WEEK 8 (P=0.02, WEEK 12(P=0.002) AND WEEKS 16 THROUGH 24 (P=0.001), WITH HAM-A SCORES DECREASING FROM 30.7 TO 9.9 AT 24 WEEKS. IN A HEAD-TO-HEAD COMARISON WITH OXAZEPAN (15 MG/DAY), KAVA (70 MG OF
KAVALACTONES THREE TIMES DAILY) WAS FOUND TO HAVE SIMILAR ANXIOLYTIC EFFECTS AND A MORE FAVORABLE TOXICITY PROFILE. UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL ANXIOLYTICS, INCLUDING ETHANOL, KAVALACTONES DO NOT SEEN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SEDATION, DEPRESSED MENTAL
FUNCTION, OR IMPARIEMENT OF MOTOR FUNCTION AT THERAPEUTIC DOSAGES. FURTHER-MORE, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE APPEAR TO BE MINIMAL. |