Anxiety disorders brain systems

Pharmacology has provided powerful tools to characterize the neurochemical pathways of stress and anxiety in the brain, and how these pathways are involved in the pathophysiology and treatment of anxiety disorders. In the past, this work has largely focused on classical neurotransmitter systems, including the synthesis, release, and metabolism of monoamines and receptor subtypes that control presynaptic release of neurotransmitters and their postsynaptic effects. Increasing the specihcity of drugs but also the combination of mechanisms has been pursued to improve anxiolytic drugs. 

New drug targets have been generated by characterizing the importance of hormones and second messenger systems in the pathophysiology and treatment of anxiety disorders. Neuropeptides and neuroactive steroids are at least in part synthesized and released in the brain independent from their peripheral activity. 

BRAIN SYSTEMS IN EARLY-ONSET ANXIETY DISORDER... 

Heim, C. and Nemeroff, C.B. (1999) The impact of early adverse experiences on brain systems involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety and affective disorders. Biol Psychiatry 46 1509-1522. 

It is likely that depression and anxiety disorders are associated with problems in several brain systems, and, indeed, different drugs appear to be effective in different people. Even though SSRIs are currently the first choice of drugs for treating many anxiety disorders, other classes of antidepressants are tried if the SSRIs prove ineffective. 

Tranquilizers are agents that suppress or inhibit some aspects of central nervous system (CNS) activity—the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves from both— and are thus referred to as CNS depressants. Used primarily to treat insomnia as well as a wide variety of anxiety disorders, tranquilizers are among the most com-... 

Morilak DA, Frazer A (2004) Antidepressants and brain monoaminergic systems a dimensional approach to understanding their behavioural effects in depression and anxiety disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 7 193-218... 

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