Disorders of Anxiety and Impulsivity and the Drugs Used to Treat These Disorders

 

Neurobiology of Anxiety

What is anxiety?

The amygdala is important to emotion-processing circuits

Multiple neurotransmitters mediate anxiety

Box 17.1 The Cutting Edge Neural Mechanism Responsible for High Tonic Cell Firing Mediating Anxiety

Genes and environment interact to determine the tendency to express anxiety

The effects of early stress are dependent on timing

The effects of early stress vary with gender

Characteristics of Anxiety Disorders

Drugs for Treating Anxiety, OCD, and PTSD

Barbiturates are the oldest sedative–hypnotics

Benzodiazepines are highly effective for anxiety reduction

Second-generation anxiolytics produce distinctive clinical effects

Antidepressants relieve anxiety and depression

Many novel approaches to treating anxiety are being developed