[The heart and central nervous system. Benzodiazepines in cardiovascular psychosomatic medicine].

In certain clinical situations, a close correlation between CNS alterations and changes in the normal functioning of the cardiovascular apparatus has been well documented. Thus, it has been shown that a certain type of behavior, termed type A, is significantly associated with coronary disease and other cardiovascular disorders. Stress, too, by activating complex neurohormonal mechanisms can become an important factor in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Systematic management of these disorders has not yet been worked out but centrally acting drugs, and especially benzodiazepines, have been found useful in reducing the stress reaction and the consequent psychosomatic cardiovascular involvement. Some molecules of this class of drugs have been shown to possess marked affinity for the cardiac muscle and to act effectively in control and suppression of the cardiovascular disorders following upon the neuro-hormonal activation caused by stressful events.