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Anxiety disorders - assessment and management in general practice
Michael Kyrios1, Richard Mouding, Maja Nedeljkovic
1Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. mkyrios@swin.edu.au
Australian Family Physician
|June 10, 2011
Summary
Anxiety disorders are common and require careful assessment and management in general practice. Treatment includes psychoeducation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medications like SSRIs, with regular follow-up essential for recovery.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Anxiety is a normal response to threat, but anxiety disorders involve excessive arousal, maladaptive cognitions, and coping deficits.
- Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, frequently encountered in primary care, and often comorbid with other conditions, leading to significant morbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the diagnosis, assessment, and management strategies for anxiety disorders within a general practice context.
Main Methods:
- Assessment involves ruling out medical causes, identifying specific anxiety disorder features, recognizing comorbidities, and evaluating distress levels.
- Management encompasses psychoeducation, psychological interventions (especially cognitive behavior therapy), and pharmacotherapy.
Main Results:
- First-line pharmacological treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
- Medicare-funded psychological care is available for diagnosed anxiety disorders in Australia.
- Regular monitoring is crucial for treatment efficacy and identifying complex cases needing specialist referral.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of anxiety disorders in general practice requires a comprehensive approach integrating assessment, psychological therapies, and pharmacotherapy.
- Timely referral for complex cases and ongoing patient review are vital for optimal outcomes in anxiety disorder management.
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