Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview01:26

Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview

Anxiolytic drugs are vital in managing anxiety disorders by effectively alleviating symptoms such as excessive fear, tachycardia, and tremors. There are several classes of anxiolytic medications, each with unique mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone01:29

Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone

Benzodiazepines are a class of anxiolytic drugs known for their rapid efficacy and high therapeutic-to-lethal dose ratio, but with a potential risk of drug dependence. These drugs are lipophilic, allowing for rapid absorption after oral administration, eventually reaching the central nervous system (CNS). Once in the CNS, benzodiazepines bind to the allosteric site of the GABAA receptor. This binding enhances the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. By doing so, they prevent...
Anxiety: Overview01:18

Anxiety: Overview

Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Human brain changes after first psilocybin use.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Serotonergic psychedelics for depression: A comprehensive overview.

International review of neurobiology·2025
Same author

Suicidal Ideation in Medicinal Cannabis Patients: A 12-Month Prospective Study.

Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·2024
Same author

Psilocybin and Other Classic Psychedelics in Depression.

Current topics in behavioral neurosciences·2023
Same author

Approach-avoidance biases to self-harm cues in young people with self-harm.

Journal of affective disorders·2023
Same author

Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology.

Neuropharmacology·2022
Same journal

Psilocybin reduces fear memory and restores neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Classical psychedelic microdosing, mood, and cognitive function: An umbrella review with narrative synthesis.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

The purpose of the psychosocial protocol in the psychedelic-assisted therapy: A scoping review.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Mitochondrial dysfunction in schizophrenia and its modulation by atypical antipsychotic drugs: A randomized controlled trial.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Effects of pimavanserin, xanomeline and highly-purified plant-derived cannabidiol on MK-801-induced behaviours in mice relevant to psychosis.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of orally administered S-ketamine in healthy participants.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety
04:20

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety

Published on: November 11, 2022

Opioids and anxiety.

A Colasanti1, E A Rabiner, A Lingford-Hughes

  • 1Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Division of Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK. a.colasanti@imperial.ac.uk

Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|June 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The opioid system significantly influences anxiety. Activating opioid pathways reduces anxiety responses in both healthy individuals and those with anxiety disorders, suggesting an adaptive role.

More Related Videos

Elevated Plus Maze Test Combined with Video Tracking Software to Investigate the Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketogenic Supplements
05:42

Elevated Plus Maze Test Combined with Video Tracking Software to Investigate the Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketogenic Supplements

Published on: January 7, 2019

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice
14:40

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: October 27, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety
04:20

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety

Published on: November 11, 2022

Elevated Plus Maze Test Combined with Video Tracking Software to Investigate the Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketogenic Supplements
05:42

Elevated Plus Maze Test Combined with Video Tracking Software to Investigate the Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketogenic Supplements

Published on: January 7, 2019

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice
14:40

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: October 27, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Neurobiology
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Anxiolytic research

Background:

  • The opioid system is integral to neural regulation of anxiety.
  • Evidence spans preclinical models, clinical trials, neuroimaging, genetics, and epidemiology.
  • Opioid ligands and receptors modulate physiological and dysfunctional anxiety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize research on the opioid system's role in anxiety neurobiology.
  • To integrate findings from diverse research disciplines.
  • To elucidate the anxiolytic effects of opioid system activation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical studies using animal models of fear and anxiety.
  • Summary of human literature, including clinical and experimental studies.
  • Analysis of neuroimaging, genetic, and epidemiological data.

Main Results:

  • Preclinical data demonstrate the central opioid system's modulation of defensive responses.
  • Human studies corroborate preclinical findings, showing consistent anxiolytic effects.
  • Opioid system activation produces anxiolytic responses in healthy and anxious populations.

Conclusions:

  • Opioid system activation confers anxiolytic effects.
  • This suppression of anxiety may be an adaptive mechanism.
  • Opioids blunt negative affective responses within the broader framework of opioid neurotransmission.