SEROTONIN-S2 RECEPTORS BLOCKADE AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDERS - A DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY ON RITANSERIN AND LORAZEPAM

  • 1 January 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (2) , 111-119
Abstract
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.

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