Anxioselective anxiolytics: can less be more?

Benzodiazepines remain widely used for the treatment of anxiety disorders despite a side-effect profile that includes sedation, myorelaxation, amnesia, and ataxia, and the potential for abuse. γ-Aminobutyric acid A (GABA A) receptor partial agonists, subtype-selective agents, and compounds combining both of these features are being developed in an attempt to achieve benzodiazepine-like efficacy without these potentially limiting side effects. This article reviews the nonclinical and clinical studies of “anxioselective” anxiolytics that target GABA A receptors and discusses potential mechanisms subserving an anxioselective profile.