The Role of GABA in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Mechanisms underlying the pathological characteristics of the various anxiety disorders have yet to be fully elucidated. One of the most widely accepted mediators known to play a central role in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders is the g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Evidence supporting the role of a dysfunctional GABA system has resulted from clinical experience with the benzodiazepines, as well as subsequent determination of mechanism of action, genetic engineering, and neuroimaging studies of the GABA receptor. The concatenation of results suggests a relative deficiency in GABA neurotransmission, which can be augmented by agents acting on different components of the GABA system. Agents such as the…