PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS

Anxiety disorders and insomnia represent relatively common medical problems within the general population. These problems typically recur over a person s lifetime (3,4). Epidemiological studies in the United States indicate that the lifetime prevalence for significant anxiety disorders is about 15%. Anxiety disorders are serious medical problems affecting not only quaUty of life, but additionally may indirecdy result in considerable morbidity owing to association with depression, cardiovascular disease, suicidal behavior, and substance-related disorders. 

Insomnia is a related psychiatric illness having potentially serious consequences. In any given year up to one-third of the general population may experience insomnia and consequently considerable impact on quaUty of life. Potentially serious psychosocial, health, and socioeconomic consequences may foUow. Many sedative—hypnotics additionally have a firmly estabUshed position within the field of anesthesiology as premedication, inducing agents, and/or for maintenance in intensive care medicine. 

Insomnia complaints are common in the general population and can be dichotomized into problems of delayed sleep onset and those related to sleep maintenance. Increasing attention is being focused on the adverse daytime effects of insomnia. Sleep disturbances become more common with increased age and are more prevalent in women. Sleep complaints arise from very diverse etiologies which prominently include concomitant primary 

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (4th Edition) 

Pharmacological Profiles of Anxiolytics and Sedative—Hypnotics. Historically, chemotherapy of anxiety and sleep disorders rehed on a wide variety of natural products such as opiates, alcohol, cannabis, and kawa pyrones. Use of various bromides and chloral derivatives ia these medical iadications enjoyed considerable popularity early ia the twentieth century. Upon the discovery of barbiturates, numerous synthetic compounds rapidly became available for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. As of this writing barbiturates are ia use primarily as iajectable general anesthetics (qv) and as antiepileptics. These agents have been largely replaced as treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders. 

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Neuroleptic analgesia is so called because the combination of a major tranquilizer, a neuroleptic dmg, and a potent opiate produces an anesthetic state characterized by sedation, apathy, and mental detachment (see Psychopharmacological agents) (152). Iimovar [8067-59-2] a combination of droperidol [648-72-2], C22H22FN2O2, (19) and fentanyl (9) citrate, is used for procedures that do not require muscle relaxation. However, the onset of action is slow. 

Despite recent advances in understanding the neuropharmacological basis of inhalant dependence, there are no published studies examining the effects of potentially efficacious medications in the treatment of this condition. In the following sections, we discuss psychopharmacological agents that, because of their known effects on the neurotransmitter systems that mediate inhalants reinforcing effects, may assist inhalant abusers achieve abstinence. 

Sternbach, LH, Randall, LO and Gustafson, SR (1964) 1,4-Benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide and related compounds). In Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 1, Psychopharmacological Agents (Ed. Gordon, M), Academic Press, New York London, pp. 137-224. 

USE OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIC AGENTS IN MEDICALLY OR NEUROLOGICALLY ILL CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS... 

Principles of rational use of psychopharmacologic agents in this population should follow that of their... 

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