CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE MONOAMINERGIC NEUROTRANSMITTER SYSTEM IN ANXIOGENESIS

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are widespread in the world and Ukraine, and their frequency is constantly growing. In the brain, the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and associated areas of these structures are responsible for the development of anxiety pathology. It has been shown that a wide variety of serotonergic structures of the brain are involved in the formation and progression of anxiety pathology. At the same time, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the main drugs in the treatment of these conditions, although they have not been confirmed to enhance or weaken serotonergic transmission. Disorders of the noradrenergic system constitute another leading link in the pathogenesis of neuroses, which is confirmed by the effectiveness of drugs that reduce the activity of the corresponding structures in the central nervous system. In neuroses, the sensitivity of central adrenergic receptors changes, and the relationship with the serotonergic neurotransmitter system is discussed. The dopaminergic system of the brain makes a certain contribution to the pathogenesis of neurotic disorders. Such disorders of this system, changes in the content of the dopamine mediator, and the sensitivity of D-receptors can provoke generalized anxiety states and other diseases. The possibility of adverse reactions, in particular social phobias, after the administration of D-receptor blockers is also discussed. It has been shown that metabolism of monoaminergic mediators is disrupted during anxiety. Therefore, the leading role in the development and progression of anxiety pathology belongs to the imbalance of the serotonergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems of the central nervous system.

Keywords

• neurosis
• neurotransmitter systems
• serotonin
• norepinephrine
• dopamine