Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the efficacy and safety of quetiapine combined with escitalopram in the treatment of general anxiety disorder. METHODS In the 8-week, randomized, double-blind, and parallel controlled clinical trial, sixty patients were randomly divided into quetiapine and escitalopram(study) group and escitalopram(control) group, 30 for each group. All the patients were assessed with HAMA and CGI-SI before treatment and after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. Safety measures included adverse reactions, laboratory examination and electrocardiogram were observed. RESULTS Compared with before treatment, HAMA and CGI-SI decreased significantly in study group and control group. In the end first week, compared with before treatment, HAMA and CGI-SI decreased significantly in study group, while it was not significantly in control group. HAMA was significantly different between control group and study group of HAMA in the end of each week. CGI-SI was significantly different between control group and study group in the end of 1st, 2nd and 4th week. Efficiency was 86.7% and 70% in study group and control group, there was significant difference(P<0.05). Incidence of adverse reactions in control group and study group was 20.0% and 23.3%, respectively, there was no significant difference. CONCLUSION Quetiapine combined with escitalopram has a more rapid effect and safety on controlling general anxiety disorder than escitalopram.