Drugs for anxiety: from chloral hydrate to novel therapeutics
The British Journal of Psychiatry May 28, 2026 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2026.10598 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Editorial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | General |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Chloral hydrate Anxiolytic Key lock Drug Pharmacology Intensive care medicine |
| Key points | Argues that there remains a major need for improved medications to reduce disability and improve quality of life for anxiety disorders. |
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are common and disabling. Current drugs have limited efficacy, notable side-effects and little innovation. This editorial briefly reviews past, current and emerging anxiolytic treatments, including psychedelic-assisted therapies, and highlights key themes. There remains a major need for improved medications to reduce disability and improve quality of life.