Despite this, there has been far less recent research on novel medication treatments for anxiety disorders over the past 5вЂ“10 years compared to the number of experimental drug trials on treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia ( Part of the reason for the relative paucity of new drug compounds may be the existence of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved efficacious medications and psychotherapies for anxiety disorders, as well as the perception that anxiety disorders are managed adequately with the currently available treatments. Anxiety can lead to work and school absences and have a larger cost burden than other psychiatric disorders due to their higher prevalence ( 3вЂ“ 5). According to the World Health Organization, there are about 264 million people globally who suffer from anxiety disorders, representing a 15% increase since 2005 ( 2). Among the anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorder (SAD) and specific phobia (SP) are the most common ( 1). Overall, the progression of current and future psychopharmacology research in anxiety disorders suggests that there needs to be further expansion in research of these novel pathways and larger-scale studies of promising agents with positive results from smaller trials.ДЄnxiety disorders are the most common class of psychiatric disorders, with a lifetime prevalence in the United States of around 32%, according to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) ( 1). Although there are some recent randomized controlled trials for novel agents including neuropeptides, glutamatergic agents (such as ketamine and d-cycloserine), and cannabinoids (including cannabidiol) primarily in GAD or SAD, these trials have largely been negative, with only some promise for kava and PH94B (an inhaled neurosteroid). The outcome of the review reveals a lack of randomized double-blind placebo- controlled trials for anxiety disorders and few studies comparing novel treatments to existing anxiolytic agents.

The pathways and neurotransmitters reviewed include serotonergic agents, glutamate modulators, GABAergic medications, neuropeptides, neurosteroids, alpha- and beta-adrenergic agents, cannabinoids, and natural remedies. Second, we will review novel pharmacotherapeutic agents under investigation for the treatment of anxiety disorders in adults. Posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are excluded from this review. This review's first aim is to summarize current pharmacological treatments (both approved and off-label) for panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and specific phobias (SP), including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), azapirones (e.g., buspirone), mixed antidepressants (e.g., mirtazapine), antipsychotics, antihistamines (e.g., hydroxyzine), alpha- and beta-adrenergic medications (e.g., propranolol, clonidine), and GABAergic medications (benzodiazepines, pregabalin, and gabapentin). While there continues to be expansive research in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and schizophrenia, there is a relative dearth of novel medications under investigation for anxiety disorders.

8Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United StatesДЄnxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and a leading cause of disability.7Clinical Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States.6Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.5Department of Psychiatry and Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.4Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.3Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.2Silver Hill Hospital, New Canaan, CT, United States.

1Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.

Most anxiolytic agents block the action of certain chemicals in the nervous system.Amir Garakani 1,2,3 *, James W. ADRENERGIC BETA-ANTAGONISTS are commonly used in the symptomatic treatment of anxiety but are not included here.ДЄ drug used to treat symptoms of anxiety, such as feelings of fear, dread, uneasiness, and muscle tightness, that may occur as a reaction to stress. Agents that alleviate ANXIETY, tension, and ANXIETY DISORDERS, promote sedation, and have a calming effect without affecting clarity of consciousness or neurologic conditions.

Anxiety medication