Bandelow B, Allgulander C, Baldwin DS, Costa DLDC, Denys D, Dilbaz N, Domschke K, Eriksson E, Fineberg NA, Hättenschwiler J, Hollander E, Kaiya H, Karavaeva T, Kasper S, Katzman M, Kim YK, Inoue T, Lim L, Masdrakis V, Menchón JM, Miguel EC, Möller HJ, Nardi AE, Pallanti S, Perna G, Rujescu D, Starcevic V, Stein DJ, Tsai SJ, Van Ameringen M, Vasileva A, Wang Z, Zohar J. World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines for treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress disorders - Version 3. Part I: Anxiety disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 28:1-39. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2086295. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35900161.

Abstract

Aim: This is the third version of the guideline of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Task Force for the Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders (published in 2002, revised in 2008). Method: A consensus panel of 33 international experts representing 22 countries developed recommendations based on efficacy and acceptability of available treatments. In total, 1007 RCTs for the treatment of these disorders in adults, adolescents, and children with medications, psychotherapy and other non-pharmacological interventions were evaluated, applying the same rigorous methods that are standard for the assessment of medications. Result: This paper, Part I, contains recommendations for the treatment of panic disorder/agoraphobia (PDA), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), specific phobias, mixed anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, separation anxiety and selective mutism. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are first-line medications. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the first-line psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. The expert panel also made recommendations for patients not responding to standard treatments and recommendations against interventions with insufficient evidence. Conclusion: It is the goal of this initiative to provide treatment guidance for these disorders that has validity throughout the world.

Bandelow B, Allgulander C, Baldwin DS, Costa DLDC, Denys D, Dilbaz N, Domschke K, Hollander E, Kasper S, Möller HJ, Eriksson E, Fineberg NA, Hättenschwiler J, Kaiya H, Karavaeva T, Katzman MA, Kim YK, Inoue T, Lim L, Masdrakis V, Menchón JM, Miguel EC, Nardi AE, Pallanti S, Perna G, Rujescu D, Starcevic V, Stein DJ, Tsai SJ, Van Ameringen M, Vasileva A, Wang Z, Zohar J. World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines for treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress disorders - Version 3. Part II: OCD and PTSD. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 28:1-17. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2086296. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35900217.

Abstract

Aim: This is the third version of the guideline of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Task Force for the Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders which was published in 2002 and revised in 2008.Method: A consensus panel of 34 international experts representing 22 countries developed recommendations based on efficacy and acceptability of the treatments. In this version, not only medications but also psychotherapies and other non-pharmacological interventions were evaluated, applying the same rigorous methods that are standard for the assessment of medication treatments.Result: The present paper (Part II) contains recommendations based on published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for the treatment of OCD (n = 291) and PTSD (n = 234) in children, adolescents, and adults. The accompanying paper (Part I) contains the recommendations for the treatment of anxiety disorders.For OCD, first-line treatments are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Internet-CBT was also superior to active controls. Several second-line medications are available, including clomipramine. For treatment-resistant cases, several options are available, including augmentation of SSRI treatment with antipsychotics and other drugs.Other non-pharmacological treatments, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS) and others were also evaluated.For PTSD, SSRIs and the SNRI venlafaxine are first-line treatments. CBT is the psychotherapy modality with the best body of evidence. For treatment-unresponsive patients, augmentation of SSRI treatment with antipsychotics may be an option.Conclusion: OCD and PTSD can be effectively treated with CBT and medications.