Abstract: Compounds which are non-natural galanin receptor ligands are disclosed. The ligands are of small size, have agonist or antagonist galanin activity and may cross the blood-brain barrier to displace galanin from galanin receptors. The ligands are useful as medicaments for treatment of convulsions (e.g. in epilepsy), diseases and disorders related to endocrinology (e.g., growth hormone, insulin or prolactin release), tumors expressing galanin receptors, feeding disorders pain, allodynia, psychiatric disorders such as depression (involving e.g., noradrenaline or serotonin), cognitive disorders (e.g. Alzeimer's disease), and the like.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula ##STR1## or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Z is a saturated or unsaturated 3 to 6 carbon chain,m is 2 or 3,R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom, or a straight or branched C.sub.1-4 alkyl group,R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.13 are situated in the ortho, meta, or para position of the phenyl ring and are the same or different and selected from the following groups: H, OH, OR.sub.14, halogen, CO.sub.2 R.sub.9, CN, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2, COCH.sub.3,OSO.sub.2 CF.sub.3,OSO.sub.2 CH.sub.3,CONR.sub.10 R.sub.11, OCOR.sub.12, whereinR.sub.9, R.sub.12 and R.sub.14 is a straight or branched C.sub.1-4 alkyl group,R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 are the same or different and represents hydrogen or a straight or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl group,R is 1) ##STR2## processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical preparations containing them and the use of the compounds in the treatment psychiatric disorders.