This second volume continues the description of the psychotropic agents and discusses anxiolytics, gerontopsychopharmacological agents, and psychomotor stimulants. Of these groups of substances, most of this volume has been devoted to anxiolytics as the authors have endeavored to convey as complete a picture as possible. The editors are of the opinion that particular attention should be given to anxiolytics with regard to their range of administration as this is the most frequently prescribed group of psychotropic drugs. In contrast to neuroleptics and thymoleptics, anxiolytics are a class of psychotropic drugs whose therapeutic effect can be recognized in animal experiments to some extent. This, together with the analysis of the biochemical mechanisms of their actions, permits a better understanding of material processes in the brain accompanying the emotions: anxiety and tension. For the first time in the history of the Handbook the editors have devoted a whole chapter to gerontopsychopharmacological agents. In doing so they are also aware of the risk they are taking, at least from a pharmacological point of view, as gerontopsychopharmacological agents are an insufficiently defined and extremely heterogeneous group of substances. The only denominator the various subgroups of these agents have in common is that they are given in cases of dysfunctions, disorders, and diseases of the brain occurring mainly in the elderly.

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Anxiolytics.- 1 The Chemistry of Anxiolytics.- A. Introduction.- B. Classes of Antianxiety Agents.- I. Barbiturates.- II. Propanediols.- III. Compounds Belonging to Various Chemically Unrelated Classes.- IV. 1,4-Benzodiazepines.- V. 1,5-Benzodiazepines.- References.- 2 General Pharmacology and Neuropharmacology of Benzodiazepine Derivatives.- A. Acute Toxicity.- I. Acute Toxicity in Man.- II. Acute Toxicity in Animals.- III. General Comments on Acute Toxicity.- B. Cardiovascular Effects.- I. Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Other Hemodynamic Parameters.- II. Arrhythmias.- III. Isolated Myocardium.- IV. Cardiovascular Responses to Central Nervous System Stimulation.- V. Cardiovascular Responses to Behavioral Experiments.- VI. Cardiovascular Responses to Peripheral Stimulation.- VII. Cardiac and Vasoconstrictor Responses to Various Agents..- VIII. Conclusions.- C. Effects on Respiration.- I. Respiratory Control.- II. Cough.- III. Bronchospasm.- IV. Conclusions.- D. Effects on the Gastrointestinal System.- I. Stomach.- II. Liver and Pancreas.- III. Gastrointestinal Motility.- IV. Conclusions.- E. Effects on Other Autonomic Funtions.- F. Effects on Motor End Plate and Skeletal Muscle.- I. Neuromuscular Transmission In Vivo.- II. In Vitro Neuromuscular Preparations.- III. Effects on Invertebrate Musculature.- IV. Effects on Embryonic Muscles.- V. Interaction with Neuromuscular Blockers.- VI. Conclusions.- G. Effects on the Kidney and Body Fluid Electrolytes.- I. Urine.- II. Blood Electrolytes.- III. Sodium Current in Frog Skin.- IV. Calcium Content of Synaptic Vesicles.- H. Effects on the Endocrine System.- I. Male and Female Sexual Hormones.- II. Thyroid Hormones.- III. Pituitary Hormones.- IV. Conclusions.- I. Effects on Cell Metabolism.- I. Carbohydrates.- II. Energy-Rich Phosphates.- III. Lipids.- IV. Protein Synthesis.- V. Miscellaneous.- VI. Conclusions.- J. Miscellaneous Effects.- I. Nociception.- II. Inflammation.- III. Food and Fluid Intake.- IV. Emesis.- V. Body Temperature.- VI. Conclusions.- K. Anticonvulsant Activity.- I. Acute Models of Epilepsy.- II. Chronic Models of Epilepsy.- III. Conclusions.- L. Effects on Muscle Tone and Coordination.- I. Subjective Methods of Evaluating Muscle Tone and Coordination.- II. Objective Tests Believed to Record Muscle Tone.- III. Conclusions.- M. Effects on Spontaneous and Induced Motor Activity.- I. Locomotor Activity.- II. Exploratory Behavior.- III. Effects on Drug-Induced Changes in Motor Activity.- IV. Induced Head-Turning.- V. Conclusions.- N. Benzodiazepines and Aggression.- I. Spontaneous Aggression.- II. Isolation-Induced Aggression in Mice.- III. Aggression in Grouped Male Mice.- IV. Foot-Shock-Induced Aggression in Mice.- V. Aggression Induced in Rats by Brain Lesions.- VI. Brain Stimulation-Induced Aggression in Cats, Rats, and Monkeys.- VII. Drug-Induced Aggression.- VIII. Induction of Aggressive Behavior.- IX. Conclusions.- O. Interaction with Other Centrally Active Agents.- I. Synergism with "Centrally Depressant" Agents.- II. Antagonism with Centrally Active Agents.- III. Conclusions.- P. Effects on Peripheral Nervous Structures.- I. Axonal Conduction.- II. Spontaneous and Evoked Activity in Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nerves.- III. Synaptic Transmission in Sympathetic Ganglia.- IV. Dorsal Root Ganglia.- V. Conclusions.- Q. Effects on Invertebrate Neurons.- R. Effects of Spinal Cord Functions.- I. Effects on Spinal Cord Activities Through a Supraspinal Site of Action.- II. Effects Within the Spinal Cord.- III. Conclusions.- S. Effects on Dorsal Column Nuclei.- T. Benzodiazepines and Evoked Potentials in the Brain.- I. Limbic Structures.- II. Hypothalamus and Thalamus.- III. Substantia Nigra.- IV. Brain Stem Reticular Formation.- V. Lateral Vestibular Nucleus.- VI. Visual System.- VII. Cerebral Cortex.- VIII. Conclusions.- U. Effects on Cortical and Subcortical Electroencephalogram (EEG).- I. Spontaneous EEG.- II. Arousal Reaction.- III. Hippocampal Theta-Rhythm.- IV. Cortical Recruiting and Augmenting Response.- V. Caudate Spindles.- VI. Ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) Waves.- VIL Afterdischarges.- VIII. Conclusions.- V. Benzodiazepines and Sleep.- I. Cats.- II. Rabbits.- III. Rats.- IV. Monkeys.- V. Ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) Waves.- VI. Conclusions.- W. Effects on Single- and Multiple-Unit Activity in the Brain.- I. Limbic System.- II. Cerebellum.- III. Cerebral Cortex.- IV. Brain Stem and Diencephalic Structures.- V. Conclusions.- X. Effects on Specific Neurotransmitter and Mediator Systems.- I. Acetylcholine (ACh).- II. Dopamine (DA).- III. Noradrenaline (NA).- IV. Adrenaline.- V. Phenylethylamine.- VI. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).- VII. Histamine.- VIII. Glutamate.- IX. Glycine.- X. ?-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA).- XI. Purine Nucleotides.- XII. Enkephalins.- XIII. Other Peptides.- XIV. Prostaglandins.- XV. Conclusions.- Y. Benzodiazepines and Cyclic Nucleotides.- I. Cyclic 3?,5?-Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP).- II. Cyclic 3?,5?-Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP).- III. Conclusions.- Z. Benzodiazepine Receptors.- I. Main Characteristics of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- II. Regional Distribution of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- III. Multiplicity of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- IV. Influence of Physical Factors on Benzodiazepine Binding.- V. Nature of the Benzodiazepine Binding Site.- VI. Cellular Localization of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- VII. Subcellular Localization.- VIII. Phylogenetic Development of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- IX. Ontogenetic Development of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- X. In Vivo Demonstration of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- XI. Plasticity of Benzodiazepine Receptors.- XII. Endogenous Ligands for Benzodiazepine Receptors.- XIII. Modulation of Benzodiazepine Binding by GABA-Mimetic Compounds.- XIV. Enhancement of 3H-Diazepam Binding by Other Compounds.- XV. Molecular Consequences of Benzodiazepine Receptor Stimulation.- AA. Benzodiazepine Antagonists.- AB. Concluding Remarks.- References.- Addendum.- 3 General Pharmacology and Neuropharmacology of Propanediol Carbamates.- A. Introduction.- B. Acute Toxicity.- C. Cardiovascular Actions.- I. Meprobamate.- II. Mebutamate.- D. Effects on Respiration.- E. Effects on Other Autonomic Functions.- I. Gastrointestinal System.- F. Effects on Neuromuscular Transmission.- G. Effects on the Endocrine System.- H. Anticonvulsant Activity.- I. Effects on Spontaneous and Imposed Motor Activity.- J. Effects on Muscle Tone and Coordination.- K. Interactions with Various Centrally Active Agents.- L. Effects on Ag…