The psychobiology of anxiolytic drugs - Part 1: basic neurobiology

The authors provide an overview of the current state of knowledge with rega rds to the neurobiological mechanisms involved in normal and pathological a nxiety. A brief review of the classification and cognitive psychology of an xiety is followed by a more in-depth look at the neuroanatomical and neuroc hemical processes and their relevance to our understanding of the modes of action of anxiolytic drugs, The serotonergic, noradrenergic, and gamma -ami nobutyric acidergic systems are reviewed. The numerous physiological and ph armacological methods of anxiety provocation and the increasing importance of functional neuroimaging are also examined. The review provides an overvi ew of the biology and basic pharmacology of anxiolytic drugs, and complimen ts the more clinically oriented companion review. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.