Benzodiazepines: behavioral and neurochemical mechanisms.
The therapeutic effects of benzodiazepines in psychoneurosis may depend in part on their ability to release or disinhibit a patient's anxiety-suppressed gratification-seeking behavior. Benzodiazepines may disinhibit behavior by reducing the activity of serotonin (and possibly acetylcholine) neurons in the brain's "punishment" system. Reduction of serotonin transmission may be due to a facilitation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated presynaptic inhibition at the serotonin nerve terminal.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010076:Oxazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D011678:Punishment; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D010076:Oxazepam; D000109:Acetylcholine; D009638:Norepinephrine