Treating anxiety disorders

Question 1

What’s used to treat anxiety?

Answer 1

Benzos are often used and effective for treating anxiety

Question 2

What happens as a result of high concentrations of GABA synapse in the amygdala?

Answer 2

Because Benzos is a GABA agonist, it increases the inhibitory tx.

Question 3

What happens when benzo ANTAGONIST is given to someone with panic disorder?

Answer 3

Precipitates panic. Antagonists are inhibitory: inhibits inhibitory = excites (antagonist) (GABA)

Question 4

Tell me about NEUROSTEROIDS

Answer 4

It’s a GABA agonist. Also GABA synapses have a binding site for neurosteroids. It is just like Benzos.

Question 5

What is GABA?

Answer 5

an inhibitory neurotransmitter . (makes neurons less likely to fire action potential or release neurotransmitters)

Question 6

During anxiety what happens to neurosteroids?

Answer 6

They are suppressed causing suppression of GABA receptors

Question 7

Recent research indicated that a chemical that enhanced neurosteroids synthesis did what?

Answer 7

Enhanced activity of GABA receptor, which reduced panic.

It didn’t produce sedation or withdrawal that occurs with Benzos. It was only tested for 7 days.

Question 8

What is another effective way to treat anxiety disorders?

Answer 8

Using SSRI’s

Question 9

What is d-cycloserine (DCS)?

Answer 9

It’s an NMDA agonist (glutamate receptor, excitatory) - in conjuction with CBT it’s used to successfully treat anxiety disorders.

Question 10

Without the use of CBT is DCS treatment effective?

Answer 10

No! DCS alone had no effect, in an animal study, DCS enhanced extinction occurred only when paired with training. This suggests that DCS exerts influence by augmenting CBT/