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Anxiety and Alcoholism: A Serotonin Link

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

Gary D. Tollefson
Gary D. Tollefson*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, 640 Jackson Street, St Paul, Minnesota, 55101, USA
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Abstract

The augmentation of serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission attenuates alcohol consumption, whereas depletion enhances use. A number of serotonin-specific pharmacological probes appear to be effective in reducing the voluntary consumption of alcohol. The 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone is an anxiolytic which has been shown to diminish the desire to consume alcohol in anxious alcoholic patients. Thus, serotonin may represent a common denominator for a spectrum of behavioural disorders including anxiety and alcoholism. Novel serotonin drugs, such as the azapirones, may usefully supplement conventional treatment strategies for substance abuse.

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Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue S12: Anxiety and Serotonin , September 1991 , pp. 34 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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