Method of identifying compounds having antiepileptic, anticonvulsant or anxiolytic activities

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of screening for a therapeutically useful compound which comprises testing an LC132 receptor agonist in a screening assay for psychiatric and/or neurological disorders. More particularly, the screening method is based on contacting an LC132 receptor with an agent suspected of being an agonist of the LC132 receptor function, followed by the detection of the binding and/or the agonist activity of the compound and then testing of an agent with LC132 agonist activity in an antiepileptic, anticonvulsant or anxiolytic screening assay.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a psychiatric or neurological disorder in a subject comprising administering to the subject Orphanin FQ or a pharma-cologically active derivative thereof in a daily dosage amount from about 0.1 nanograms per kilogram body weight to about 0.1 milligrams per kilogram body weight.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the psychiatric disorder is anxiety.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the neurological disorder is epilepsy or convulsions.  
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising from 0.01 nanograms to 20 milligrams Orphanin FQ or a pharmacologically active derivative thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.