title: Benzodiazepines in psychiatry.
abstract: There are many difficulties in evaluating the efficacy of anxiolytic drugs, but their widespread and increasing clinical use confirms their effectiveness. The benzodiazepines, the most popular agents, offer certain advantages over the others. This article summarises the chemical properties and clinical effects of the benzodiazepines, and propose guidelines for the rational use of these agents in clinical practice.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D000431:Ethanol; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000517:prevention & control; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000431:Ethanol