anxiogeni

Anxiogeni is a term used in pharmacology and neuroscience to denote substances, stimuli, or conditions that increase anxiety or the propensity to experience anxiety. The plural form anxiogeni is sometimes used when referring to multiple agents, but the more common English term is anxiogenic. Etymologically, it combines a root related to anxiety with a suffix meaning producing or generating.

Anxiogenic effects can arise from a variety of sources, including drugs, environmental stressors, or social situations. In pharmacology, common anxiogenic substances include stimulant drugs such as caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine, which can elevate sympathetic activity and arousal. Some medications, such as certain antidepressants in the early phase of treatment, may produce temporary anxiety in some individuals. Acute stressors or socially evaluative situations can also be anxiogenic, even in the absence of pharmacological agents.

The mechanisms underlying anxiogenic effects are diverse and agent-specific but often involve heightened activation of the amygdala and other limbic structures, increased activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and shifts in neurotransmitter systems such as norepinephrine, glutamate, and GABA. These changes can enhance vigilance, arousal, and the physiological symptoms associated with anxiety.

In research, anxiogenic effects are studied using human experimental paradigms and animal models. In humans, changes are assessed with self-report mood scales and physiological measures; in animals, tests such as the elevated plus maze and open-field tests gauge anxiety-like behavior. Understanding anxiogenic effects is important for evaluating drug safety, for modeling anxiety-related disorders, and for interpreting fluctuations in anxiety across contexts.