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The neurobiology of benzodiazepine receptors in panic disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder
Author(s) -
Ellen Steven,
Olver James,
Norman Trevor,
Burrows Graham D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.1165
Subject(s) - panic disorder , neuroscience , benzodiazepine , receptor , psychology , neurotransmitter , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , gabaa receptor , gamma aminobutyric acid , gaba receptor , neurotransmitter systems , central nervous system , psychiatry , medicine , anxiety , dopamine
Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is quantitatively the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and benzodiazepines (BZs) act via a binding site on the GABA receptor complex. The neurobiology of the GABA‐BZ receptor complex is being increasingly understood as imaging and pharmacological techniques to study the receptor complex both indirectly and directly improve. This paper outlines the evidence for BZ receptor abnormalities in panic disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.