Beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonism in anxiety.
The relative role of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonism in the management of anxiety symptoms is not clear. We studied the effect of ICI 118,551, a selective beta 2-antagonist, in 51 patients presenting with acute anxiety symptoms and fulfilling DSM-III criteria for anxiety disorder. All patients received placebo during the first week of treatment followed by thrice daily diazepam (2 mg) or ICI 118,551 (50 mg) or placebo for 4 weeks with double-blind, random allocation. Hamilton anxiety scale scores improved on all treatments but there was no significant difference between treatments. Beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonism does not appear to be effective in acute anxiety neurosis. Some earlier literature suggests that beta 1-antagonism may be more important.
Cooper
S J
SJ
Department of Mental Health, Queen's University, Belfast, U.K.
Kelly
C B
CB
McGilloway
S
S
Gilliland
A
A
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; C026777:ICI 118551; D003975:Diazepam