title: [Anxiety-ridden patients in the doctor's office].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. dwedeki1@gwdg.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wedekind
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bandelow
mesh_terms: 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