The management of anxiety in general practice

This paper attempts to summarize a personal approach to the management of anxiety and to some of the problems that have been recently encountered in respect of public attitudes to benzodiazepines. In the management of anxiety 'psychological' approaches should be sought where possible. There are, however, occasions, both in connection with normal and abnormal anxiety, when drug therapy is appropriate or where perhaps a combination of 'psychological' and pharmacological methods represents the most expedient course of action. Prescribers need an 'armamentarium' of drugs, since no one type of anxiolytic meets all our needs. The paper suggests limited use of benzodiazepine, beta blockers, low dose neuroleptics, some newer anxiolytic agents and certain specific drugs. The general practitioner needs to tailor his choice to the needs and attributes of particular patients.