This study investigated the emotional effects of the beta-adrenergic blocking agent oxprenolol (40 mg, p.o.) and the tranquilizing agent diazepam (5 mg, p.o.) in healthy subjects under three situational conditions:an emotionally neutral control situation and two situations designed to arouse different levels of anxiety. Both oxprenolol and diazepam induced positive emotional changes only in the more strongly anxiety-arousing situation. Significant differences between oxprenolol and diazepam in inducing emotional stabilization were not demonstrable.
Gisela Erdmann, Wilhelm Janke, Sigrid Köchers, Brunhild Terschlüsen
Institut fur Psychologie, Technische Universität Berlin; Lehrstuhl fur Psychologie I, Universität Würzburg, BRD
Neuropsychobiology 1984;12:143-151 (DOI: 10.1159/000118129)