Abstract
The present dose-response study investigated the effects of the benzodiazepine oxazepam (Serax) on anxiety as measured by autonomic and self-report indices in a nonclinical sample. Given Fowles' (1980, 1988) theory that electrodermal activity primarily reflects the activity of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) while heart rate primarily reflects the activity of the behavioral activation system (BAS), we predicted that electrodermal indices of anxiety would be more affected by oxazepam than heart rate. Psychophysiological and self-report measures were recorded prior to and following a speech stressor ins ubjects given placebo (n=17), 15 mg oxazepam (n=19), and 30 mg oxazepam (n=17). Anxiolytic effects were found during stressed state as measured by skin conductance level but not heart rate or self-reported anxiety. Furthermore, the anxiolytic effects of oxazepam were noted only during the stressful phases of the experiment. The results are viewed as supportive of Fowles' motivational interpretation of the distinction between heart rate and electrodermal responding.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aden GC, Thein SG (1980) Alprazolam compared to diazepam and placebo in the treatment of anxiety. J Clin Psychiatry 41:245–248
Bailie R, Christmas L, Price N, Restall J, Simpson P, Wesnes K (1989) Effects of temazepam premedication on cognitive recovery following alfentanil-propofol anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 63:68–75
Boucsein W, Wendt-Suhl G (1976) The effect of Chlordiazepoxide on the anticipation of electric shocks. Psychopharmacology 48:303–306
Brown ML, Sletten IW, Kleinman KM, Korol B (1968) Effect of oxazepam on physiological responses to stress in normal subjects. Curr Ther Res 10:543–553
Cohn JB (1981) Multicenter double-blind efficacy and safety study comparing alprazolam, diazepam and placebo in clinically anxious patients. J Clin Psychiatry 42:347–351
Erdmann G, Janke W, Kochers S, Terschlusen B (1984) Comparison of the emotional effects of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent and a tranquilizer under different situational conditions. Neuropsychobiology 12:143–151
Farha JG (1989) Benzodiazepines, anxiety, and behavioral inhibition: a dose-response study. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri, Columbia
Farha JG, Sher KJ (1989) The effects of consent procedures on the psychophysiological assessment of anxiety: a methodological inquiry. Psychophysiology 26:185–191
File SE, Lister RG (1985) A comparison of the effects of lorazepam with those of propranolol on experimentally-induced anxiety and performance. Br J Clin Pharmacology 19:445–451
Fowles DC (1980) The three arousal model: implications of Gray's two-factor learning theory for heart rate, electrodermal activity, and psychopathy. Psychophysiology 17:87–104
Fowles DC (1988) Psychophysiology and psychopathology: a motivational approach. Psychophysiology 25:373–391
Gray JA (1977) Drug effects on fear and frustration: possible limbic site of action of minor tranquilizers. In: Iversen LL, Iversen SD, Snyder SH (eds) Handbook of psychopharmacology. Plenum Press, New York
Gray JA (1978) The neuropsychology of anxiety. Br J Psychol 69:417–434
Hoehn-Saric R, McLeod DR (1986) Physiological and performance responses to diazepam: two types of effects. Psychopharmacol Bull 22:439–443
Holmberg G, William-Olsson U (1964) Effects of benzquinamide, in comparison with chlordiazepoxide and placebo, on subjective experiences and autonomic phenomena in stress experiments. Psychopharmacologia 5:147–157
Hommer DW, Matsuo V, Wolkowitz O, Chrousos G, Greenblatt DJ, Weingartner H, Paul SM (1986) Benzodiazepine sensitivity in normal human subjects. Arch Gen Psychiatry 43:542–551
Howell DC (1982) Statistical methods for psychology. Duxbury Press, Boston MA
James I, Savage I (1984) Beneficial effect of nadolol on anxiety-induced disturbances of performance in musicians: a comparison with diazepam and placebo. Am Heart J 108:1150–1155
Lykken DT, Venables PH (1971) Direct measurement of skin conductance: a proposal for standardization. Psychophysiology 8:656–672
McNair DM, Frankenthaler LM, Czerlinsky T, White TW, Sasson S, Fisher S (1982) Simulated public speaking as a model of clinical anxiety. Psychopharmacology 77:7–10
Molander L (1982) Effect of melperone, chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and diazepam on experimental anxiety in normal subjects. Psychopharmacology 77:109–113
Nakano S, Gillespie HK, Hollister LE (1978) A model for evaluation of antianxiety drugs with the use of experimentally induced stress: comparison of nabilone and diazepam. Clin Pharmacol Ther 23:54–62
O'Boyle CA (1988) Situational stress and anxiety in man: studies with drugs in laboratory and surgical settings. Stress Med 4:195–205
O'Boyle CA, Harris D, Barry H, Cullen JH (1986) Differential effect of benzodiazepine sedation in high and low anxious patients in a “real life” stress setting. Psychopharmacology 88:226–229
Obrist P (1981) Cardiovascular psychophysiology: a perspective. Plenum Press, New York
Pillard RC, Fisher S (1967) Effects of chlordiazepoxide and secobarbital on film-induced anxiety. Psychopharmacologia 12:18–23
Rickels K (1978) Use of antianxiety agents in anxious outpatients. Psychopharmacology 58:1–17
Rogosa DR, Willett JB (1983) Demonstrating the reliability of the difference score in the measurement of change. J Educ Measure 20:335–343
Ruiz AT (1983) A double-blind study of Alprazolam and Lorazepam in the treatment of anxiety. J Clin Psychiatry 44:60–62
Silver JM, Yudofsky SC (1988) Psychopharmacology and electroconvulsive therapy. In: Talbott JA, Hales RE, Yudofsky SC (eds) Textbook of psychiatry. American Psychiatric Press, Washington, DC pp 767–854
Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL, Lushene RE (1970) STAI manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Consulting Psychologists Press
Williams RH, Zimmerman DW (1977) The reliability of difference scores when errors are correlated. Educ Psychol Measur 37:679–689
Williams RH, Zimmerman DW, Rich JM, Steed JL (1984) An empirical study of the relative error magnitude in three measures of change. J Exp Ed 53:55–57
Winer BJ (1971) Statistical principles in experimental design, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York
Woods JH, Katz JL, Winger G (1987) Abuse liability of Benzodiazepines. Pharmacol Rev 39:251–413
Zimmerman DW, Williams RH (1982a) Gain scores in research can be highly reliable. J Educ Measure 19:149–154
Zimmerman DW, Williams RH (1982b) The relative error magnitude in three measures of change. Psychometrika 47:141–147
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Landon, J.F., Sher, K.J. & Shah, J.H. Effects of oxazepam on anxiety: implications for Fowles' psychophysiological interpretation of Gray's model. Psychopharmacology 113, 137–143 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244346
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244346