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Serotonin and anxiety: current models.
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa. djs2@mail.sun.ac.zq
International Clinical Psychopharmacology
|December 8, 2000
Summary
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) represent a significant advancement in treating anxiety disorders. Clinical evidence highlights their effectiveness and advantages over older medications for conditions like panic and social anxiety disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Growing evidence implicates the serotonin system in anxiety disorders.
- Preclinical research has generated key hypotheses regarding serotonin's role.
- Clinical studies, particularly on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are highly persuasive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review models of serotonin function in anxiety disorders.
- To emphasize the clinical advantages of SSRIs in treating anxiety.
- To provide clinicians with heuristic models for understanding serotonin's role.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on serotonin system models in anxiety.
- Analysis of clinical data supporting the efficacy of SSRIs.
- Comparison of SSRIs with previous pharmacotherapeutic options like benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants.
Main Results:
- Several models, including 'see-saw', 'amygdala', and 'basal ganglia' models, offer heuristic value for understanding serotonin in anxiety.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have demonstrated significant clinical advantages in treating various anxiety disorders.
- SSRIs offer superior benefits compared to older treatments like benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants.
Conclusions:
- The serotonin system is crucial for understanding and treating anxiety disorders.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) represent a major therapeutic breakthrough for anxiety.
- Clinicians can utilize various serotonin models to inform treatment strategies for anxiety disorders.