title: Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anxiety and related disorders are among the most common mental disorders, with lifetime prevalence reportedly as high as 31%. Unfortunately, anxiety disorders are under-diagnosed and under-treated.
  
  
  METHODS
  These guidelines were developed by Canadian experts in anxiety and related disorders through a consensus process. Data on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment (psychological and pharmacological) were obtained through MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and manual searches (1980-2012). Treatment strategies were rated on strength of evidence, and a clinical recommendation for each intervention was made, based on global impression of efficacy, effectiveness, and side effects, using a modified version of the periodic health examination guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These guidelines are presented in 10 sections, including an introduction, principles of diagnosis and management, six sections (Sections 3 through 8) on the specific anxiety-related disorders (panic disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder), and two additional sections on special populations (children/adolescents, pregnant/lactating women, and the elderly) and clinical issues in patients with comorbid conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxiety and related disorders are very common in clinical practice, and frequently comorbid with other psychiatric and medical conditions. Optimal management requires a good understanding of the efficacy and side effect profiles of pharmacological and psychological treatments.
authors: Martin A
authors: MA
authors: Katzman
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Bleau
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Blier
authors: Pratap
authors: P
authors: Chokka
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Kjernisted
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Van Ameringen
authors: Martin M
authors: MM
authors: Antony
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Bouchard
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Brunet
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Flament
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Grigoriadis
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Mendlowitz
authors: Kieron
authors: K
authors: O'Connor
authors: Kiran
authors: K
authors: Rabheru
authors: Peggy M A
authors: PM
authors: Richter
authors: Melisa
authors: M
authors: Robichaud
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Walker
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*