title: Anxiety and alcoholism: a serotonin link.
abstract: The augmentation of serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission attenuates alcohol consumption, whereas depletion enhances use. A number of serotonin-specific pharmacological probes appear to be effective in reducing the voluntary consumption of alcohol. The 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone is an anxiolytic which has been shown to diminish the desire to consume alcohol in anxious alcoholic patients. Thus, serotonin may represent a common denominator for a spectrum of behavioural disorders including anxiety and alcoholism. Novel serotonin drugs, such as the azapirones, may usefully supplement conventional treatment strategies for substance abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, Minnesota 55101.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Tollefson
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002065:Buspirone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002065:Buspirone; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors