Can Anxiety Disorders Be Treated?
Fortunately, the vast majority of people with an anxiety disorder
can be helped with the right professional care. There are no
guarantees, and success rates vary with the circumstances. Treatment
periods vary. Some individuals require only a few months of
treatment, while others need a year or more. People with anxiety
disorders often have more than one disorder, which can complicate
treatment. Equally, substance abuse and clinical depression often
co-exist in patients with an anxiety disorder.
Treatment Options
Treatment must be specially tailored for each individual, but
there are a number of standard approaches. Individuals with anxiety
disorders can almost always be treated without being admitted to a
hospital.
Generally, therapists use a combination
of the following treatments; there is no single correct approach.
NAME
|
GOAL
|
HOW IT WORKS
|
BENEFITS
|
DRAWBACKS
|
Behavior Therapy
|
Modify and gain control
over unwanted behavior |
Learning to cope with
difficult situations, often through controlled exposure to
them |
Person actively involved
in recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime |
Can take time to achieve
results |
| Cognitive Therapy |
Change unproductive
thought patterns |
Examine feelings and
learn to separate realistic from unrealistic thoughts |
Person actively involved
in recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime |
Can take time to achieve
results |
Medication
|
Resolve symptoms |
Help restore chemical
imbalances that lead to symptoms |
Effective for many
people, enables other treatment to move forward |
Most medications have
side effects |
Relaxation Techniques
|
Help resolve stresses
that can contribute to anxiety |
Breathing re- training,
exercise and other skills |
Person actively involved
in recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime |
Can take time to achieve
results |
|
Treatment is successful in as many as 90
percent of anxiety disorder patients. Most people respond best
to a combination of the four options summarized in this table.
|
Treatments have been largely developed through research conducted
by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and other research
institutions. They are extremely effective and often combine
medication or specific types of psychotherapy.
More medications
are available than ever before to effectively treat anxiety
disorders. These include antidepressants
or benzodiazepines. If one medication is not effective, others
can be tried. New medications are currently being tested or are
under development to treat anxiety symptoms.
The two most effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat
anxiety disorders are behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral
therapy. Behavioral therapy tries to change actions through
techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing or through gradual
exposure to what is frightening. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
teaches patients to understand their thinking patterns so they can
react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety.
GAD
Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder often includes a
combination of medication and therapy. Busipirone is frequently
prescribed although other drugs are being researched. Therapeutic
techniques can include cognitive or behavior therapy (see
box), relaxation techniques, and biofeedback to alleviate muscle
tension.
PAD
The physical symptoms associated with panic disorder can make
diagnosis more difficult. Often, it is mistaken for heart disease,
thyroid problems, respiratory disease or hypochondria.
Recent research has shown that the roots of panic disorder are
both physical and psychological. The most successful treatment
approach for panic disorder combines medication with cognitive and
behavior therapy. In particular, medications, such as
antidepressants and benzodiazepines, have proven effective for 75 to
90 percent of sufferers.
Phobias
Treatment usually involves desensitization or exposure therapy
through which the sufferer is exposed to the source of the phobia
and gradually learns to overcome the fear. Exposure therapy can
significantly reduce or end phobic reactions for at least seven
years. Therapy is often combined with medication, such as
antianxiety drugs, antidepressants and, in some cases,
tranquilizers.
OCD
Behavior therapy is used to expose individuals to situations that
provoke their compulsions and help them learn how to decrease and
eventually refrain from performing the rituals. This treatment
approach has been successful for 50 to 90 percent of those suffering
from OCD. Because OCD may be accompanied by depression, it is
important to identify whether this illness is present and treat it
concurrently. For some individuals medications, such as
chlomipramine or fluoxetine, are effective in alleviating
obsessions.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder can be successfully treated.
Individual psychotherapy helps survivors work through their pain and
grief. Support groups or peer counseling groups enable survivors of
similar traumatic events to share their experiences and reactions.
Family therapy may also be an important component of the treatment
process. Medications, such as antidepressants, lithium,
benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers, can help control the symptoms of
PTSD.
You may also find this medication
chart helpful.
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