Fifty-seven papers summarize the most recent biochemical findings concerning benzodiazepines" mechanisms of action. The papers were presented at a conference held in 1982 at the National Institutes of Health. They suggest new approaches in psychopharmacology and contribute to our understanding of the nervous system, especially its major inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms and how it mediates anxiety. Other topics discussed include therapeutic efficacy, pharmacologic activities, and relative safety in comparison to other tranquilizers.