Yohimbine and the model anxiety state.

Ten subjects were treated with 30 and 60 mg oral doses of yohimbine hydrochloride or placebo under controlled clinical conditions to determine if such doses would create a "model anxiety state." Some evidence of anxiety was found on various rating scales, especially after the 60 mg dose. However, maximum anxiety produced by this dose of the drug exceeded that which occurred during placebo testing in only 5 of the 10 subjects. The 60 mg dose produced substantial increases in systolic blood pressure and less increase in diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate. It was concluded that yohimbine does not produce a very good model of anxiety.