title: D-fenfluramine reduces anxiety induced by simulated public speaking.
abstract: To further explore the role of serotonin (5-HT) in anxiety, 28 healthy volunteers received in a double-blind study d-fenfluramine (30 mg, p.o.) or placebo, and were submitted to a simulated public speaking test (SPS), consisting of speaking in front of a video camera. The SPS induced significant increases in subjective anxiety evaluated by the visual analogue mood scale of Norris [MANCOVA, F(1.66,39.93) = 8.51, P < 0.001], as well as in systolic blood pressure [F(3,72) = 5.70, P = 0.001] and in heart rate [F(3,72) = 3.95, P = 0.012]. The drug decreased the anxiety factor [F(1,23) = 5.21, P = 0.032], without significantly affecting physical sedation, mental sedation or other feelings and attitudes. Also, the physiological measurements were not significantly changed by d-fenfluramine. Reported evidence shows that d-fenfluramine releases 5-HT from nerve endings and blocks 5-HT reuptake, indirectly stimulating postsynaptic 5-HT receptors. Therefore, the present results indicate that 5-HT inhibits the neural substrate of SPS-induced anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neuropsiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hetem
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: de-Souza
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Zuardi
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Graeff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D013732:Test Anxiety Scale; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D005277:Fenfluramine