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Comparative Effects of Propranolol and Chlordiazepoxide in Anxiety States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

David Wheatley*
Affiliation:
Head of the General Practitioner Research Group, 325 Staines Road, Twickenham, Middlesex

Extract

Propranolol is a β-adrenergic blocking drug and so relieves symptoms due to excessive adrenaline release, and in particular slows the pulse rate, even in normal subjects (Bollinger et al., 1965). Because of this, Granville-Grossman and Turner (1966) undertook a double-blind trial of propranolol against placebo, showing that it was effective in anxiety. The General Practitioner Research Group has used chlordiazepoxide in comparative trials to new drugs in the treatment of anxiety (G.P. Clinical Trials 1968), under grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Public Health Service (MY–4135 (CI), MH 0413–05 and PH 43–65–626). It was therefore decided to compare propranolol in like manner to chlordiazepoxide, in cases of anxiety neurosis seen in general practice.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1969 

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References

Bollinger, A., Gander, M., and Forster, G. (1965). ‘Pulsfrequenz und Leistungsfähigkeit vor und nach Beta-Rezeptoren-Blockade durch Propranolol’, Schweiz. med. Wschr., 95, 1075–9.Google Scholar
General Practitioner Clinical Trials (1968). ‘Haloperidol in low dosage in anxiety’. Practitioner, 201, 826–9Google Scholar
Granville-Grossman, K. L., and Turner, P. (1966), ‘The effect of propranolol on anxiety’, Lancet, i, 788–90.Google Scholar
Wheatley, D. (1967). ‘Influence of doctors’ and patients' attitudes in the treatment of neurotic illness’. Lancet, ii, 1133–5.Google Scholar
Wheatley, D. (1969). ‘Anticipation of response to treatment in domiciliary practice’, Proceedings of the 7th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsycho-pharmacology. In the press.Google Scholar
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