Animal models for predicting clinical efficacy of anxiolytic drugs: social behaviour.

The behavioural, physiological and pharmacological validation of one animal test of anxiety, the social interaction test, is described in detail. The effects of anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs, and manipulations of catecholaminergic and serotonergic pathways are considered. The test is able to distinguish anxiolytic from sedative effects and is not sensitive to the actions of antidepressants or neuroleptics.