Generalized anxiety disorder is common in the elderly population and can be detrimental to patients’ health and cognitive function. Although the use of antidepressants is effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, many older patients require intensive treatment. In addition, the medical community still has a very limited understanding of maintenance treatment options for older patients. The results of a recent study published in the online edition of The American Journal of Psychiatry showed that high-dose antidepressants combined with CBT relieved patients’ apprehension in the short term and prevented relapse with continuous medication. However, the researchers also noted that for many patients, CBT alone can provide sustained relief. The study demonstrated effective treatment options for generalized anxiety disorder in older adults and evaluated whether sequential therapy combined with medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) would enhance the treatment of older patients with generalized anxiety disorder and prevent relapse of the disorder. A total of 73 patients with generalized anxiety disorder no younger than 60 years of age participated in the study. The participants were from three different clinics. The study was open, and first, participants received 12 weeks of escitalopram treatment. They were then randomly assigned to four different treatment regimens: escitalopram (10-20 mg/d) plus modular CBT for 16 weeks and escitalopram maintenance for 28 weeks; escitalopram alone and escitalopram maintenance; escitalopram plus CBT followed by placebo; and escitalopram alone followed by placebo. The study found that high-dose escitalopram combined with CBT enhanced the Pennsylvania Worry Questionnaire response rate but did not increase the Hamilton Anxiety Inventory response rate compared with escitalopram alone. Both escitalopram and CBT were effective in preventing relapse of generalized anxiety disorder compared to placebo.