The Place of Mood Stabilizers in The Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Mood stabilizers are used to treat bipolar disorder, but some drugs, in particular valproate, have anti-anxiety activity. This property is determined by the effect of valproate on the GABAergic system. Gamma-aminobutyric acid is involved in neurotransmission through interneuronal synapses in areas of the brain that control mood, such as the striatum, globus pallidus, and cerebral cortex. One of the most widespread mediators that plays a central role in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders is the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. This fact allows us to consider valproic acid as the drug of choice in the treatment of anxiety disorders.