An update on treatment of the anxiety disorders

The recently discovered high prevalence of the anxiety disorders, as well as studies demonstrating their strong association with psychophysiologic symptoms, will probably increase referrals for these disorders to psychiatric clinicians. The authors review developments since 1983 in the psychopharmacologic and psychologic-behavioral treatment of the anxiety disorders. They find a growing body of empirical evidence that a variety of pharmacologic and cognitively oriented behavioral therapies are effective treatments. Less evidence is available for the utility of psychodynamic therapies, although recent studies provide some support. The authors believe that as a general rule, treatment of the more severe anxiety symptoms should always include pharmacotherapy.