Current approaches to the pharmacologic treatment of anxiety disorders.
Despite their high prevalence, the anxiety disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated. Benzodiazepines, once the first line of treatment, have been superceded by SSRIs as the treatment of choice. Preclinical studies, however, suggest that CRF antagonists and antagonists of nicotinic,glutamate,5-HT1A,and NK-1 receptors may have potential anxiolytic action. Preliminary data suggest that tiagabine, the only available SGRI, may also be beneficial in the anxiety disorders. Further research on these novel agents in anxiety disorders is needed.
Sheehan
David V
DV
University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613, USA. dsheehan@health.usf.edu
Sheehan
Kathy Harnett
KH
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017277:Drug Approval; D006801:Humans; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride