Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-17T17:08:43.030Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 8 - Drugs to Treat Anxiety and Insomnia

from Part 2 - Psychopharmacology of the Main Psychotropic Drug Groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 May 2020

By
David S. Baldwin  and
Nathan T. M. Huneke
Edited by
Peter M. Haddad  and
David J. Nutt
Peter M. Haddad
Affiliation:
Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
David J. Nutt
Affiliation:
Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London
Get access

Summary

Anxiety is an understandable response to perceived threat or experienced stress, and is usually fleeting and feels controllable: it represents an ‘alarm’, facilitating physical and psychological responses to perceived danger. Anxiety symptoms are mostly mild and transient, but many people experience severe and persistent symptoms that cause distress and impair everyday function. An anxiety disorder can be diagnosed when distressing and impairing anxiety exceeds specified severity thresholds and persists beyond minimum duration requirements, providing symptoms are not explicable by another condition. Insomnia is a common disorder in which sleep is reduced in amount or quality so that daytime well-being and functioning is impaired.

Type
Chapter
Information
Seminars in Clinical Psychopharmacology , pp. 268 - 289
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Argolo, FC, Cavalcanti-Ribeiro, P, Netto, LR, Quarantini, LC (2015). Prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder with propranolol: a meta-analytic review. J Psychosom Res, 79, 89–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baldwin, DS, Aitchison, KBA, Curran, HV, et al. (2013). Benzodiazepines: risks and benefits. A reconsideration. J Psychopharmacol, 27, 967–971.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baldwin, DS, Anderson, IM, Nutt, DJ, et al. (2014). Evidence-based pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder: a revision of the 2005 guidelines from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. J Psychopharmacol, 28, 403–439.Google Scholar
Baldwin, DS, den Boer, JA, Lyndon, G, et al. (2015). Efficacy and safety of pregabalin in generalised anxiety disorder: a critical review of the literature. J Psychopharmacol, 29, 1047–1060.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bandelow, B, Reitt, M, Röver, C, et al. (2015). Efficacy of treatments for anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis. Int Clin Psychopharmacol, 30, 183–192.Google Scholar
Bandelow, B, Baldwin, D, Abelli, M, et al. (2017). Biological markers for anxiety disorders, OCD and PTSD: a consensus statement. Part II: Neurochemistry, neurophysiology and neurocognition. World J Biol Psychiatry, 18, 162–214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barker, MJ, Greenwood, KM, Jackson, M, Crowe, SF (2004). Persistence of cognitive effects after withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine use: a meta-analysis. Arch Clin Neuropsychol, 19, 437–454.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Batelaan, NM, Bosman, RC, Muntingh, A, et al. (2017). Risk of relapse after antidepressant discontinuation in anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis of relapse prevention trials. BMJ, 358, j3927.Google Scholar
Billioti de Gage, S, Pariente, A, Bégaud, B (2015). Is there really a link between benzodiazepine use and the risk of dementia? Expert Opin Drug Saf, 14, 733–747.Google Scholar
Bonnet, U, Scherbaum, N (2017). How addictive are gabapentin and pregabalin? A systematic review. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 27, 1185–1215.Google Scholar
Chagraoui, A, Skiba, M, Thuillez, C, Thibaut, F (2016). To what extent is it possible to dissociate the anxiolytic and sedative/hypnotic properties of GABAA receptors modulators? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 71, 189–202.Google Scholar
Chessick, CA, Allen, MH, Thase, ME, et al. (2006). Azapirones for generalized anxiety disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, (3), CD006115.Google Scholar
Corchs, F, Nutt, DJ, Hince, DA, et al. (2015). Evidence for serotonin function as a neurochemical difference between fear and anxiety disorders in humans? J Psychopharmacol, 29, 1061–1069.Google Scholar
Cowen, PJ, Anderson, IM, Grahame-Smith, DG (1990). Neuroendocrine effects of azapirones. J Clin Psychopharmacol, 10, 21S–25S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Culpepper, L, Wingertzahn, MA (2015). Over-the-counter agents for the treatment of occasional disturbed sleep or transient insomnia: a systematic review of efficacy and safety. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord, 17, 10.4088/PCC.15r01798.Google Scholar
Deakin, JFW (2013). The origins of ‘5-HT and mechanisms of defence’ by Deakin and Graeff: a personal perspective. J Psychopharmacol, 27, 1084–1089.Google Scholar
Dold, M, Aigner, M, Lanzenberger, R, Kasper, S (2015). Antipsychotic augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: an update meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 18, pii: pyv047. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyv047.Google Scholar
Drover, DR (2004). Comparative pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of short-acting hypnosedatives. Clin Pharmacokinet, 43, 227–238.Google Scholar
Ducasse, D, Boyer, L, Michel, P, et al. (2014). D2 and D3 dopamine receptor affinity predicts effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in obsessive-compulsive disorders: a metaregression analysis. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 231, 3765–3770.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dündar, Y, Dodd, S, Strobl, J, et al. (2004). Comparative efficacy of newer hypnotic drugs for the short-term management of insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Psychopharmacol, 19, 305–322.Google Scholar
Fleminger, S, Greenwood, RRJ, Oliver, DL (2006). Pharmacological management for agitation and aggression in people with acquired brain injury. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, (4), CD003299.Google ScholarPubMed
Freynhagen, R, Backonja, M, Schug, S, et al. (2016). Pregabalin for the treatment of drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms: a comprehensive review. CNS Drugs, 30, 1191–1200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodwin, GM, Emsley, R, Rembry, S, et al. (2009). Agomelatine prevents relapse in patients with major depressive disorder without evidence of a discontinuation syndrome: a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry, 70, 1128–1137.Google Scholar
Haddad, PM, Anderson, IM (2007). Recognising and managing antidepressant discontinuation symptoms. Adv Psychiatr Treat, 13, 447–457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hajak, G, Müller, WE, Wittchen, HU, Pittrow, D, Kirch, W (2003). Abuse and dependence potential for the non-benzodiazepine hypnotics zolpidem and zopiclone: a review of case reports and epidemiological data. Addiction, 98, 1371–1378.Google Scholar
Kalueff, AV, Nutt, DJ (2007). Role of GABA in anxiety and depression. Depress Anxiety, 24, 495–517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kishi, T, Meltzer, HY, Matsuda, Y, Iwata, N (2013). Azapirone 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist treatment for major depressive disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychol Med, 44, 2255–2269.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kishi, T, Matsunaga, S, Iwata, N (2015). Suvorexant for primary insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. PLoS One, 10, e0136910.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kuriyama, A, Honda, M, Hayashino, Y (2014). Ramelteon for the treatment of insomnia in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med, 15, 385–392.Google Scholar
Loane, C, Politis, M (2012). Buspirone: what is it all about? Brain Res, 1461, 111–118.Google Scholar
Maneeton, N, Maneeton, B, Woottiluk, P, et al. (2016). Quetiapine monotherapy in acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Drug Des Devel Ther, 10, 259–276.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Micó, J-A, Prieto, R (2012). Elucidating the mechanism of action of pregabalin. CNS Drugs, 26, 637–648.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, CH, Fleischhacker, WW (2000). Managing antipsychotic-induced acute and chronic akathisia. Drug Saf, 22, 73–81.Google Scholar
Muscatello, MR, Spina, E, Bandelow, B, Baldwin, DS (2012). Clinically relevant drug interactions in anxiety disorders. Hum Psychopharmacol, 27, 239–253.Google Scholar
Peterlik, D, Flor, PJ, Uschold-Schmidt, N (2016). The emerging role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the pathophysiology of chronic stress-related disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol, 14, 514–539.Google Scholar
Pignon, B, Tezenas du Montcel, C, Carton, L, Pelissolo, A (2017). The place of antipsychotics in the therapy of anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 19, 103.Google Scholar
Pitsikas, N (2014). The metabotropic glutamate receptors: potential drug targets for the treatment of anxiety disorders? Eur J Pharmacol, 723, 181–184.Google Scholar
Schjerning, O, Rosenzweig, M, Pottegård, A, Damkier, P, Nielsen, J (2016). Abuse potential of pregabalin. CNS Drugs, 30, 9–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sieghart, W, Sperk, G (2002). Subunit composition, distribution and function of GABA-A receptor subtypes. Curr Top Med Chem, 2, 795–816.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sigel, E, Steinmann, ME (2012). Structure, function and modulation of GABAA receptor. J Biol Chem, 287, 40224–40231.Google Scholar
Soyka, M (2017). Treatment of benzodiazepine dependence. N Engl J Med, 376, 1147–1157.Google Scholar
Steenen, SA, van Wijk, AJ, van der Heijden, GJ, et al. (2016). Propranolol for the treatment of anxiety disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Psychopharmacol, 30, 128–139.Google Scholar
Stein, DJ, Ahokas, AA, de Bodinat, C (2008). Efficacy of agomelatine in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol, 28, 561–566.Google Scholar
Stein, DJ, Ahokas, A, Albarran, C, et al. (2012). Agomelatine prevents relapse in generalized anxiety disorder: a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled discontinuation study. J Clin Psychiatry, 73, 1002–1008.Google Scholar
Sutton, JA, Clauss, RP (2017). A review of the evidence of zolpidem efficacy in neurological disability after brain damage due to stroke, trauma and hypoxia: a justification of further clinical trials. Brain Inj, 31, 1019–1027.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, P, Granville-Grossman, KL, Smart, JV (1965). Effect of adrenergic receptor blockade on the tachycardia of thyrotoxicosis and anxiety state. Lancet, 286, 1316–1318.Google Scholar
Walsh, JK, Krystal, AD, Amato, DA, et al. (2007). Nightly treatment of primary insomnia with eszopiclone for six months: effect on sleep, quality of life, and work limitations. Sleep, 30, 959–968.Google Scholar
Whale, R, Terao, T, Cowen, P, Freemantle, C, Geddes, G (2010). Pindolol augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of depressive disorder: a systematic review. J Psychopharmacol, 24, 513–520.Google Scholar
Wilson, SJ, Nutt, DJ, Alford, C, et al. (2010). British Association for Psychopharmacology consensus statement on evidence-based treatment of insomnia, parasomnias and circadian rhythm disorders. J Psychopharmacol, 24, 1577–1601.Google Scholar
Yeung, W-F, Chung, K-F, Yung, K-P, Ng, TH-Y (2015). Doxepin for insomnia: a systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Sleep Med Rev, 19, 75–83.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×