Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are common, but there are effective treatments

 

For consumers, check out Anxiety: what you need to know

Anxiety

Key points

  • Anxiety disorders are the most commonly reported mental health problem in Australia, affecting at least 14% of the population aged 16–85 years.
  • Under-recognition of anxiety and mood disorders by patients means the average time from symptom onset to seeking help is 8.2 years.
  • Health professionals are encouraged to select and tailor treatment for anxiety disorders in collaboration with each patient.
  • CBT is an appropriate first-line treatment for almost all types of anxiety disorders.
  • When medicine is needed, SSRIs are the recommended first-line medicine choice.
 

Mental health and young people

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In 2022 NPS MedicineWise launched an education program that looked specifically at supporting the management of mental health in our young people.

Find out more here

 

Medicinewise News: Psychological treatment for anxiety disorders

Woman looking out window into distance

A range of psychological treatments are used to treat anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioural therapy is the psychological treatment supported by the most evidence, but there are many others. This article examines some of the treatment options and the evidence supporting them.

Read the full article

 

Anxiety as a disorder – overlooked and undertreated

Counsellor talking to client

Around 14% of Australians aged 16–85 years are affected by anxiety disorders, yet only 27% of these people seek help, and of these, only 61% receive evidence-based treatment.

What are the effective treatments, and what evidence supports them?

Read the full article