Benzodiazepines for anxiety and depression: an updated overview of current use and major outcomes

Anxiety and depressive disorders are serious, debilitating health problems that negatively impact the patient's overall well-being and life satisfaction. The prevalence of these mood disorders has increased recently. Several treatment approaches against anxiety and depressive disorders are now available. For instance, pharmacological treatments, including the use of benzodiazepines (BZDs), have been increasingly documented. The present paper gives an insight into the underlying mechanisms of BZD anxiolytic abilities and points out the paramount role of some brain regions and systems in mediating this anxiolytic effect, and these include the HPA axis, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. Additionally, it aims to list and understand the mechanisms of adverse effects associated with these medications, including dependence, memory impairment, and withdrawal-associated symptoms, opening new perspectives in the design and production of other safe and more options for efficient medications.