Therapies, medication used to treat anxiety

Last week I began a discussion of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (G.A.D.). The hallmark of G.A.D. is chronic and excessive anxiety lasting more than six months and usually for years. The anxiety may produce both physical and psychological symptoms. Headaches, muscle tension, hyperventilation, feeling of faintness and tingling over various parts of the body are all common place with G.A.D. The G.A.D. sufferer may feel exhausted but cannot relax and is generally uncomfortable most of the time. Often feeling “keyed up” and irritable, those suffering from this anxiety disorder also often have problems with sleep and concentration. Frequently they wake up feeling apprehensive and expecting something bad to happen each day.

The diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (DSM-IV) lists the following diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least six months about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
Difficulty in controlling the worry.
The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past six months):
Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.
Being easily fatigued.
Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.
Irritability.
Muscle tension.
Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless unsatisfying sleep).
The anxiety, worry or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The disturbances are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

Treatment for G.A.D. involves behavior therapy, psychotherapy and in some cases medications that can reduce anxiety.

Relaxation training, stress management and biofeedback are behavioral techniques that teach the G.A.D. sufferer to dissipate anxiety by engaging the branch of the nervous system that opposes muscle tension.

Other behavioral techniques teach individuals to distract themselves from their constant worries.

Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy targets distorted assumptions that lead to apprehension and worry.

Often, a combination of therapies including medication is used to treat G.A.D. Learning about anxiety disorders can often be of assistance as the fear of the unknown often escalates anxiety.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2000