The effect of chlordiazepoxide on the anticipation of electric shocks.

The action of 20 mg chlordiazepoxide upon two different anxiety-evoking conditions in comparison with a control condition was investigated in a double-blind, placebo controlled study with 90 healthy male students. The Ss were told to expect an electric shock two times as strong under one condition and five times as strong under the other one in relation to a shock they had previously found unpleasant. During the anticipation interval of 20 min duration HR, GSR, respiration rate, and a rating of subjective emotional arousal were continuously recorded. The greatest effects of stress could be observed within the last 2 min of the anticipation interval, while interactions between drug- and stress-conditions occurred only at the beginning of the 20-min interval. Under the strong stress condition chlordiazepoxide showed an anxiety-reducing effect, under the control condition, however, paradoxical effects.