[New molecular targets in pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders].

Benzodiazepines are effective and widely used in anxiety disorders, but they produce sedation and dependency. Molecular studies have shown that binding benzodiazepines to GABAA receptors containing the Alpha1 subunit mediates the sedative properties of benzodiazepines. Other strategies are being developed including the use of the selective GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine and the voltage gated calcium ion channel ligand pregabalin. Several novel strategies are being developed based on preclinical observations, including corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) antagonists, substance P antagonists, and drugs inhibiting glutamate neurotransmission.