Glutamate and anxiety disorders

Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2007 Aug;9(4):278-83. doi: 10.1007/s11920-007-0033-7.

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, but they represent a particular challenge for treatment. The standard first-line treatments, including antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and buspirone, result in significant response rates for a majority of patients; however, unfavorable side effect profiles or risk for dependency for particular agents might limit their use by anxious patients, who often have low thresholds for medication discontinuation. Novel pharmacologic agents that modulate particular receptors, ion channels, or transporters relevant to glutamatergic neurotransmission may represent a new approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders, with generally more favorable side effect profiles. Although the role of glutamate in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders is still being elucidated, the use of these agents in treatment of anxiety disorders and commonly comorbid conditions such as substance abuse and mood disorders will continue to increase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / adverse effects
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Receptors, AMPA / drug effects
  • Receptors, AMPA / physiology
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid / drug effects
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid / physiology
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / drug effects
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / physiology
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agents
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Glutamic Acid