Psychophysiological differentiation of two types of anxiety and its pharmacological modification by minor tranquillizer and beta-receptor-blocker.
To evaluate the influence of beta-blockers and/or minor tranquillizers on autonomic reactions during brief stress, 48 healthy subjects were randomised into 4 groups: A = 4 mg Pindolol, B = 1.5 mg Cloxazolam, C = Placebo, D = 4 mg Pindolol + 1.5 mg Cloxazolam. Subjects underwent four stress situations: Counting, noise, mental arithmetic and ergometry, each lasting 4 min with rest periods of 8 min in between. Electromyogram, finger pulse amplitude, heart rate, pulse wave velocity and electrodermal activity were recorded simultaneously on-line. Analysis of variance showed that the two drugs had significant main effects in different systems: Pindolol reduced heart rate, mainly during mental arithmetic and ergometry, Cloxazolam reduced electrodermal activity, mainly during noise. It can be concluded that different structured situations with a varying amount and type of anxiety induce different autonomic reactions; these reactions can be differentially modified by the drugs applied.
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010869:Pindolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010869:Pindolol; C005522:cloxazolam