Treatments for anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable yet only one-third of those suffering from an anxiety disorder receive treatment. Talking therapies are usually most effective although medication is often used in the initial stages of treatment to help the individual engage well with psychological therapies.

Medication

Benzodiazepines provide rapid relief from the symptoms of anxiety. This group of drugs should only be used to treat anxiety that is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's - a type of antidepressant) are commonly used to treat generalised anxiety disorder.

Other drugs that you may be prescribed if you have an anxiety disorder include:

Tricyclic antidepressants - They have more side-effects that SSRI’s but are also effective

Other antidepressants - New medications such as Efexor are also effective and well tolerated.

Antihistamines - These are older medications used for mild to moderate anxiety. Like benzodiazepines they work quickly.

Antipsychotics may be used in cases where anxiety is severe enough to cause disorganisation of thoughts and abnormal physical and mental sensations, such as the sense that things around you are not real or that you are disconnected from your body.

Please see the Medication section for more detailed information about these drugs.

Psychological therapies

There is good evidence to support the use of Talking treatments in the treatment of anxiety disorders. There are several approaches that have proven to be effective:

  • Behaviour therapy
  • Cognitive therapy
  • Cognitive behaviour therapy
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Exposure therapy.