Low D2 binding in social phobia and antipsychotics

[Jenerate]

A recent study (Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157:457-459) suggested that generalised social phobia may be associated with low D2 receptor binding in the striatum. Therefore, for someone with social phobia, would it be detrimental to take an atypical antipsychotic?

How are antipsychotics beneficial in other anxiety disorders?

 

[bigmac74]

Which atypical antipsychotics were you thinking of?

I assume you are stating that: D2 antagonists would be detrimental, but D2 agonists would be beneficial.

Also, I wonder how DRIs would affect social phobia. Seeing how this research is 7 years old, one would assume there would be more info about a possible dopamine-social phobia link rather than the old serotonin link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanoxerine

Vanoxerine, also known as GBR-12909, is a piperazine derivative which is a potent and selective dopamine reuptake inhibitor.

A decanoate ester of vanoxerine, DBL-583, has also been developed, which slowly breaks down in the body and lasts for up to a month after a single injection.

Wow, a month!

 

[Jenerate]

There is a pilot study investigating the use of the atypical antipsychotic, olanzapine (Zyprexa) in social phobia which showed some promise for this drug: (Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 16, No. 4, 365-368 (2002), http://jop.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/16/4/365)

I am confused.

 

[Jenerate]

If dopamine reuptake inhibitors are beneficial in social phobia, why isn't bupropion, an NDRI, efficacious?

One possible neurobiological link between social anxiety disorder and substance dependence may be the neurotransmitter dopamine. Individuals with social anxiety disorder have been shown to have a decreased binding of dopamine in the basal ganglia (Tiihonen et al., 1997) and social anxiety disorder has been shown to have a high incidence in individuals with parkinsonism (Stein et al., 1990), a disease known to be associated with decreased dopamine binding.

 

[bigmac74]

If dopamine reuptake inhibitors are beneficial in social phobia, why isn't bupropion, an NDRI, efficacious?

Perhaps the effect on the NET promotes anxiety too much for an 'anti-social phobia' effect to be seen?

 

[Jenerate]

Bilz0r, would you mind replying to this post?