Nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytics: clinical usefulness.

Although the benzodiazepines have been proven effective and safe in the treatment of anxiety, research has continued in an effort to find agents that lack sedative effects and abuse/dependence liability, and do not potentiate the effects of CNS depressants. Although several nonbenzodiazepine agents have shown anxiolytic effects, most are ineffective, or their efficacy not proven, in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). One nonbenzodiazepine, buspirone, has shown significant efficacy in treating GAD in comparisons with placebo and reference compounds. Further investigations are necessary to assess effects of use over time.