Antianxiety Medications : History, Science, and Issues

With so many teens and adults affected by anxiety, it's important to understand the benefits and risks of antianxiety medications.

This accessible volume offers a holistic exploration of this diverse class of drugs, including medical, historical, cultural, and economic perspectives. Anxiety is believed to be the most common psychiatric disorder among Americans, affecting millions of children, teens, and adults.

There are a wide variety of medications used to treat anxiety, many of which (such as Xanax and Zoloft) have become familiar household names and are often also used to treat depression. Because these powerful drugs have the ability to alter how people think and feel, physicians must weigh a number of factors when prescribing them, especially for teens.

Antianxiety Medications: History, Science, and Issues offers a robust exploration of the historical, ethical, medical, legal, and scientific dimensions of these drugs. After an introductory case study of an individual with anxiety and their problems and successes with medication, this new book in Greenwood's Story of a Drug series provides an overview of anxiety and its various symptoms as well as its causes, prevalence, and diagnosis.

Readers will also gain an understanding of neurotransmission and the specific mechanisms of action of antianxiety medications; the effects and applications of these drugs, plus their associated risks, misuse, and abuse; and related policy and societal issues. * Defines various forms of anxiety and explores the many types of antianxiety medications* Clearly explains how different medications affect the brain and how the neurochemical changes they induce act to lessen feelings of anxiety* Explores the history and evolution of antianxiety medications, highlights current trends, and predicts future research directions* Delves into issues and controversies related to anxiety and its treatment, including overprescription and abuse of antianxiety medications, alternative and complementary therapies, and the stigma associated with mental illness