Kava kava in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, simple phobia and specific social phobia.

A 37-year-old female outpatient with generalized anxiety disorder, a simple phobia and a specific social phobia was treated with phytotherapy (Kava kava). Within 4 weeks, symptoms had improved by 75% and by 6 months an almost total remission of symptoms was observed. The herbal medicine was well tolerated. Kava has considerable potential value in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.