Recent developments in the psychopharmacology of anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental disorders in the United States. In the past 3 decades, substantial advances have been made in the ability to identify and treat anxiety disorders including panic disorder (PD), social phobia (SP), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is now known that these common, usually chronic disorders confer significant disability to untreated sufferers. This overview highlights some of the important advances in pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders. Evidence for efficacy of the various pharmacological agents (including relevant oral dosing and plasma-level data) and of acute and long-term treatment, and the disadvantages of medication treatment are discussed. Finally, some important clinical questions remaining to be addressed by psychopharmacological research are reviewed.
Lydiard
R B
RB
Institute of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0742, USA.
Brawman-Mintzer
O
O
Ballenger
J C
JC
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors