Behavioral effects of chronic administration of psychoactive drugs to anxious patients

Abstract

Previous experiments (KELLY et al. 1958a, b; M~QvIS etal.; SMITiK et al.) have studied effects of meprobamate and other psychoactive drugs on the objectively measured behavior of normal subjects after acute and after chronic administration of the drug treatments. The present experiment investigates chronic drug effects on a sample of patients psychiatrically diagnosed as anxiety neurotics. This, then, allows for extension of our previous findings to a new group of potential drug users-the more disturbed outpatient, of psychiatrist or general practitioner, who is likely to be treated for protracted periods under close medical supervision. The driving, vision, and attention tests developed and used previously were again employed in this experiment, along with new tests that appeared promising as anxiety-sensitive indicators. In addition to data from the objective behavioral tests, two other types of data were collected-psychiatric assessments on a number of variables, and checklist ratings both by the patients and by a close friend. Method Subjects. Thirty-eight paid volunteers, ranging in age from 21 to 41 years, were chosen as subjects for the present study of whom thirtytwo, including 15 men and 17 women, completed the experiment. This total included 23 patients who were diagnosed as anxiety neurotics on the basis of a psychiatric interview and work-up, plus nine normal controls. Patients were recruited from three sources : a) A general practi-* The authors wish to thank Mr. GERS~OM MORNINGSTAR for conducting the behavioral tests, Drs. RALP~ W. GERARD and E. LOWELL KELLY for consultation in planning and designing the experiment, Mrs. MONA MO~I~GSTA~ and Messrs.

Chronic sodium bromide treatment relieves autistic-like behavioral deficits in three mouse models of autism

“…Behavioral improvements were replicated after repeated oral administration of NaBr, in agreement with previous reports of oral bioavailability (72). Further, bromide treatment, known as anxiolytic (45), consistently decreased anxiety levels in Oprm1 -/mice, a significant advantage as anxiety disorders are among the most frequent comorbidities in ASD (3,5). Finally, beneficial effects of chronic NaBr administration in Oprm1 -/mice were replicated using KBr, long used as an antiepileptic drug in human (47) and veterinary (65) medicine, despite its narrow therapeutic window due to cardiotoxicity of potassium ions (K + ) (73).…”

“…Bromide ion (Br -) was the first effective treatment identified for epilepsy (44), long used also as an anxiolytic and hypnotic medication (45). With the advent of novel antiepileptic and anxiolytic drugs, the use of Brwas progressively dropped down, although it remains a valuable tool to treat refractory seizures (46,47).…”

Chronic sodium bromide treatment relieves autistic-like behavioral deficits in three mouse models of autism

“…Behavioral improvements were replicated after repeated oral administration of NaBr, in agreement with previous reports of oral bioavailability ( 72 ). Further, bromide treatment, known as anxiolytic ( 45 ), consistently decreased anxiety levels in Oprm1 -/- mice, a significant advantage as anxiety disorders are among the most frequent comorbidities in ASD ( 3, 5 ). Finally, beneficial effects of chronic NaBr administration in Oprm1 -/- mice were replicated using KBr, long used as an antiepileptic drug in human ( 47 ) and veterinary ( 65 ) medicine, despite its narrow therapeutic window due to cardiotoxicity of potassium ions (K + ) ( 73 ).…”

“…Bromide ion (Br - ) was the first effective treatment identified for epilepsy ( 44 ), long used also as an anxiolytic and hypnotic medication ( 45 ). With the advent of novel antiepileptic and anxiolytic drugs, the use of Br - was progressively dropped down, although it remains a valuable tool to treat refractory seizures ( 46, 47 ).…”