Serotonin S2 receptors blockage and generalized anxiety disorders. A double-blind study on ritanserin and lorazepam

Serotonin (5-HT) and 5-HT receptors are involved in mood disturbances, such as anxiety and depression. Ritanserin is a new substance with highly selective blocking activity on S2 receptors for 5-HT in the central nervous system. Ritanserin, (20 mg daily) and lorazepam (5 mg daily) were administered to 24 patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorders (DSM III), in a double-blind fashion for six weeks. The results obtained showed comparable improvement in almost all patients with both drugs. Future studies should pay particular attention to psychosomatic disturbances, depressed mood and dysthymic-like disorders, in which ritanserin seems to be more efficacious, according to the best responding items of the general anxiety check list used.