EFFECTS OF LORAZEPAM ON FILM-INDUCED DIFFERENTIATED EMOTIONS IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

We studied the effects of lorazepam, a benzodiazepine, on differentiat ed emotions in healthy volunteers. In order to induce differentiated e motions, film excerpts were selected on the basis of the type of emoti on they induced (fear, anger and for affective tone neutral film). For 6 days (D1 to D6), ten healthy volunteers received lorazepam (1 mg bi d) or placebo in a randomized cross-over double-blind trial. During ea ch treatment period, emotional induction occurred on D4, D5 and D6. On e film excerpt (fear, anger or neutral) was presented each morning aft er relaxation. Evaluation was performed before and after each emotiona l induction and included questionnaires (Differential Emotions Scale a nd physical activation visual analog scales), and neurophysiological p arameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and norep inephrine levels). Globally, the film excerpts induced the predicted e motions. An analysis of variance was undertaken and revealed a signifi cant effect of lorazepam versus placebo. On the Differential Emotions Scale and during fear induction, lorazepam induced a significantly hig her increase in fear, anxiety and disgust emotions than placebo, where as no effect was observed after anger induction. Lorazepam also induce d a significantly higher increase in diastolic and systolic blood pres sure with no change in heart rate, and physical activation items (''te ars'' and ''faster breathing'') without no significant change in norep inephrine. In conclusion, our results are consistent with an overall i ncrease in emotional reactivity with lorazepam (1 mg bid) as compared to placebo. The pertinence of film-induced differentiated emotions has to be confirmed for clinical pharmacological use.