[Non-pharmacological treatment for anxiety disorders]

NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric condition presenting to primary care practitioners. Efficacious treatments for these disorders exist, including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the psychotherapy of first choice in most patients with anxiety disorders. With access to psychological therapies being limited, CBT provided within primary care settings for anxiety is usually brief and focused to psychoeducation, exercise prescription and psychosocial support. Psychoeducation includes information about the psychophysiology of anxiety reactions and the rationale of available treatment possibilities. The general practitioner encourage patient to practice deep breathing, exposition, cognitive restructuring, problem solving, relaxation, mindfulness in a self-help format. Exercise (aerobic training, such as active walking or jogging) has been studied in anxiety and can systematically be recommended as adjunctive treatment.