Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety
Published on: November 11, 2022
[Barriers to treatment access reported by people with anxiety disorders]
Michel Perreault1, David Lafortune, Anick Laverdure
1Université McGill, Montréal, Québec. michel.perreault@douglas.mcgill.ca
Objectives:
Our study examined the barriers to treatment experienced by people with anxiety disorders (ADs) who had not received services for their problems. Recommendations to improve treatment access made by participants are reported.
Method:
A web-based questionnaire on treatment accessibility for anxiety disorders was completed by 610 people living in Quebec reporting an anxiety problem. Chi-square tests were used to compare answers from people who received services (n = 151) with answers from people who had not (n = 434 ).
Results:
Treatment wait times that were too long (X2 = 29.66, df = 1, P < 0.001 ), difficulties reaching a professional by phone (X2 = 13. 75, df = 1, P < 0.001 ), and geographical distance from service sites (X2 = 4.34, df = 1, P = 0.04) were obstacles that hindered participants who had not received the services they were seeking, more than those who had received services.
Conclusions:
Participant-reported barriers and recommendations highlight the need to increase access to health care professionals in terms of wait times, to train and inform primary care professionals about screening and treating ADs, and to develop psychotherapeutic services availability in the public health network.
Related Concept Videos
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Panic Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...