SEROTONIN RECEPTORS, SOCIAL PHOBIA AND PANIC DISORDER

This paper reviews the importance of the serotonin system in the gener ation of anxiety with particular emphasis on how these mechanisms may be important in the pathogenesis and treatment of panic disorder and s ocial phobia. A discussion of animal models, the limitations of extrap olating from animals to humans, and a summary of the data currently de rived from these models is presented. Human etiopathophysiologic and t reatment studies of panic disorder and social phobia are also presente d. The role of the various receptor subtypes in the modulation of anxi ety ave discussed as well as are implications for treatment. Clearly, more research is needed to understand the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders and to help clinicians treat them.