title: [Confounding effects of medical illness in the treatment of anxiety].
abstract: Cognitive-behavior therapy combined with medication has proven to be an effective treatment combination for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders. Certain cases may prove difficult however, particularly when an individual is recovering in the wake of a serious medical illness in which many of the symptoms of the illness overlap with the symptoms of anxiety. This article reviews some of the complicating factors that may occur with such cases as well as techniques for helping individuals differentiate between symptoms that denote a recurrence of the medical illness and those that involve anxiety, especially panic disorder. Two case vignettes are included which portray the manner in which cognitive-behavioral techniques can be used to help individuals reduce their anxiety and panic and also effectively differentiate symptoms of a reoccurring medical illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Dattilio
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Zullino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012803:Sick Role
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents