Abstract: 4-Aryl-1-(indanmethyl, dihydrobenzofuramethyl or dihydrobenzothiophenemethyl) piperidine, -tetrahydropyridine or -piperazine compounds of general formula (I) wherein one of X and Y is CH2, and the other one is CH2, O or S; Z is N, C, CH or COH; Ar is an optionally substituted aryl group; R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, acyl, thioacyl, alkylsulfonyl, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, a group R9VCO— where V is O or S and R9 is alkyl or aryl, or a group R10R11NCO— or R10R11NCS— wherein R10 and R11 are hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, or R10 and R11 are linked to form a ring; R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl; or R1 and R2 are linked to form a ring; R3-R5 are hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, hydroxy, alkylsulfonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl or nitro; R6 and R7 are hydrogen or alkyl or they are linked to constitute a 3-7-membered ring; R8 is hydrogen or alkyl