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Effects of selective beta-adrenoceptor blockade on anxiety associated with flight phobia

Department of Internal Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

S.E. Kjeldsen

Medical Research Department, ICI Pharmaceuticals, Macclesfield, Cheshire UK

D.T. Greenwood

E. Enger

Department of Internal Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

The present study is aimed at studying the effects of selective beta-adrenoceptor blockade on anxiety in subjects with flight phobia. Using an incomplete block design subjects received a beta-1 (atenolol 2 x 50 mg), a beta-2 (ICI 118 551 3 x 50 mg) selective blocking drug, or placebo on three occasions over a 16 h period under double-blind conditions prior to a 1/2 h flight. The same procedure was repeated 4 weeks later. Thirty-four subjects completed this double-blind, two-period crossover study. Self-reporting by the Alderley Park State Anxiety Questionnaire, Global Flight Anxiety and Treatment Preference showed a moderate but significant effect of atenolol in alleviating especially somatic symptoms of flight anxiety in addition to an overall effect in the treatment of this entity (p<0.01). ICI 118 551 was ineffective in alleviating any of the important symptoms of flight phobia. These results may imply that the effect of beta-adrenoceptor blockade in reducing phobic anxiety may be more a result of beta-1 than of beta-2 blockade. Beta-1 adrenoceptor blockade may be an alternative treatment of flight phobia, particularly when the symptoms are of somatic character and when intellectual performance is expected shortly after the flight.

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 4, No. 1, 35-41 (1990)
DOI: 10.1177/026988119000400106


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