Adjustment disorder with anxiety (ADWA) is a highly prevalent condition, particularly in primary care practice. Adjustment disorders significantly impair patients’ quality of life, but there are relatively few systematic treatment trials in the area of ADWA, and there are few data on predictors of treatment response. Here we review the limited pharmacotherapy data available on the treatment of ADWA. In primary care settings benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed for psychiatric symptoms, despite their adverse event profile and their potential risk for dependence. The non-benzodiazepine drug etifoxine is a promising agent insofar as it is not associated with dependence. Its efficacy and safety have been evaluated in three double-blind randomized clinical trials in comparison with non-benzodiazepine (buspirone) [1Servant D., Graziani P.L., Moyse D., Parquet P.J. Treatment of adjustment disorder with anxiety: efficacy and tolerance of etifoxine in a double-blind controlled study Encephale 1998 ;  24 : 569-574

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références] and benzodiazepines (lorazepam and alprazolam) [2Nguyen N., Fakra E., Pradel V., Jouve E., Alquier C., Le Guern M.E., et al. Efficacy of etifoxine compared to lorazepam monotherapy in the treatment of patients with adjustment disorders with anxiety: a double-blind controlled study in general practice Hum Psychopharmacol 2006 ;  21 : 139-149 [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références, 3Stein D.J. Etifoxine versus alprazolam for the treatment of adjustment disorder with anxiety: a randomized controlled trial Adv Ther 2015 ;  32 : 57-68 [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références]. The three trials point to the anxiolytic properties of etifoxine, demonstrating an overall clinical improvement of patients, and no risk for dependence or rebound effect. In conclusion, even if benzodiazepines are often used for the treatment of ADWA, other therapeutic options are possible, with a better safety profile.