title: The psychobiology of anxiolytic drug.  Part 2: Pharmacological treatments of anxiety.
abstract: Benzodiazepines have been the mainstay of pharmacological treatment of anxiety over the last 4 decades. The problems associated with their use prompted the research for alternative agents that would be useful in anxiety conditions. Old classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, showed effectiveness in some anxiety syndromes, even in areas where benzodiazepines were not very effective. Newer antidepressants, the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, also appear very useful in some anxiety states, and their favourable side-effect profile has elevated them to first-line treatment tools in these conditions. However, the ideal anxiolytic does not exist. Research with other new compounds is very active, and some experimental drugs show promise for the future.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK. spilios.argyropoulos@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Argyropoulos
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sandford
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nutt
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006801:Humans; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors