Effect of bromazepam versus placebo on inhibition and waiting capacity in young women with traits of anxiety

Abstract

The effect of 3 dosages of bromazepam administered as single oral doses (1.5, 3 and 6 mg) on anxious inhibition phenomena was studied in a population of 16 young women (18-30 years) with anxiety-traits, selected on the criteria of Cattell's anxiety scale supported by two personality inventory (Eysenck's, MMPI). A double-blind, placebo study design was chosen. The main assessment criteria were based on the go/no-go test (Logan's procedure), slow response rate (SRR) and a task of forced or unforced decision (use of the CFF). Attentional processes and declarative memory were analyzed as secondary criteria. None of the three dosages modified inhibition or acting-out. Sustained attention was reduced with 1.5 mg and 6 mg, as was memory performance with 3 and 6 mg, 3.5 h after drug administration. In contradistinction with studies carried out in healthy volunteers or with other benzodiazepine compounds, bromazepam at single low dosages does not modify inhibition capacity in these subjects with traits of anxiety, in this particular procedure.

Inhibitory attentional control in patients with frontal lobe damage

“…Deficient inhibitory control in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was detected using the SST in several studies, e.g., Aman, Roberts, and Pennington (1998), Oosterlaan and Sergeant (1998), and Schachar et al (1995). The SST was also used to evaluate pharmacological effects on inhibition in hyperactive children and in young women with traits of anxiety (Schuck et al, 1998). Mesial hypofrontality in adolescents was observed in an fMRI study, which utilized the SST (Rubia et al, 1999).…”