Antidepressant Treatment Plus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Older Adults

Inclusion Criteria

• Principal (i.e., most severe or pressing problem) or co-principal current diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder
• Pretreatment score of at least 17 on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

Exclusion Criteria

• Principal diagnosis other than GAD
• Clinically judged too psychiatrically unstable to participate in the study
• Cognitive impairment or dementia
• Alcohol or other substance use disorder within 6 months prior to study entry
• Lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or bipolar disorder
• Serious, unstable, or terminal medical condition that would compromise study participation or preclude the use of escitalopram, as determined by a review of medical records
• Use of psychotropics that could not be safely tapered and discontinued for at least 2 weeks prior to study entry
• Use of depot neuroleptics within 6 weeks prior to study entry
• Unwillingness to terminate other forms of psychotherapy
• Already received adequate trial of escitalopram or CBT