title: Anxiety treatment. A commonsense approach.
abstract: Common sense should guide the nonpsychiatrist physician in diagnosing and treating the symptom of anxiety. Possible causes of anxiety include various medical disorders in which anxiety is inherent, chronic illness, CNS stimulant intoxication, CNS depressant withdrawal, and primary psychiatric disorders, including the primary anxiety disorders. If none of these conditions is found, situational anxiety may be the diagnosis by exclusion. Generally, treatment should involve education and supportive psychotherapy, behavioral therapies designed to promote relaxation and adjustment to stress, and short-term pharmacotherapy. Although some clinical data from uncontrolled studies point to the possible importance of others drugs (eg, beta-blocking agents) in treating anxiety, the major pharmacotherapy rests with antianxiety drugs, particularly the benzodiazepine. Because each benzodiazepine appears to be relatively effective, a specific agent is selected for a particular clinical situation on the basis of its kinetic (especially its half-life) and side-effect profiles. A nonbenzodiazepine soon to be released in the United States, buspirone (Buspar), appears to be effective and nonaddictive and is not potentiated by alcohol. However, the final verdict as to its usefulness and safety in treating anxiety awaits results of further testing.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002065:Buspirone; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002065:Buspirone