[Anxiety-ridden patients in the doctor's office].
Initially, patients with anxiety syndromes consult the general practitioner complaining of physical symptoms. After an appropriate differential diagnostic work-up, the family doctor can therefore check whether the patient might possibly be suffering from an anxiety disorder. For the treatment of such disorders, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological strategies all have a role to play. The general practitioner can initiate supportive medication before referring the patient to a specialist. Early detection and treatment of an anxiety disorder can prevent the condition from becoming chronic and may also obviate the need for unnecessary repeated diagnostic measures and treatments.
Wedekind
D
D
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. dwedeki1@gwdg.de
Bandelow
B
B
D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology