[ABSTRACT] The discover of the anxiolytic activity of the antidepressants was almost simultaneous to the discovery of the own antidepressant action of these agents. Notwithstanding, the new antidepressants, specially the SSRI, have been the most contrasted agents in this sense, due to their better tolerance profile. Among the anxiety disorders, the new antidepressants have confirmed their therapeutical efficacy, mainly in panic disorder and in generalizated anxiety disorder (GAD), as well as soc