title: Animal models for the study of anti-anxiety agents: a review.
abstract: Animal models for the study of anxiolytic agents are reviewed and evaluated according to pharmacological and behavioral criteria. Although there are important exceptions, in general, most early animal models have not provided a reliable basis for identifying compounds with potential anxiolytic action, or for delineating the mechanisms of anxiolytic drug action. The possibility that phylogenetically 'prepared' forms of defensive learning might serve as a basis for the study of anxiolytic agents is introduced.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Treit
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003259:Consummatory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D012919:Social Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole