A compound represented by the formula (I), a salt thereof, an N-
oxide thereof, a solvate thereof, or a
prodrug thereof:wherein X, Y, and W each independently represent a
carbon atom or a
nitrogen atom;Z represents CH or a
nitrogen atom;R1 represents (1) C3-10 branched
alkyl which may be substituted or (2) —(CH2)m—NR4R5; R2 and R3 each independently represent (1) a
hydrogen atom, (2) C1-4
alkyl which may be substituted with a
halogen atom, hydroxy which may be protected, amino which may be protected, or carboxyl which may be protected, (3) C2-4 alkenyl, (4) C2-4 alkynyl, (5)
nitrile, (6) COOR6, (7) CONR7R8, (8) COR101, (9) S(O)nR102, or (10) a
halogen atom, in which R6 represents a
hydrogen atom or C1-4
alkyl, R7 and R8 each independently represent a
hydrogen atom or C1-4 alkyl, R101 represents a
hydrogen atom or C1-4 alkyl, R102 represents C1-4 alkyl, n represents 1 or 2; andAr represents an aromatic ring which may be substituted, is useful as a pharmacologically
active ingredient having a CRF
antagonist action in preventing and / or treating neuropsychiatric diseases, diseases of
peripheral organs or the like.