Fortnightly Review: Treatment of anxiety

The anxiety disorders are common conditions-com- munity surveys suggesting that at any one time about 3-5% of the adult population suffers generalised anxiety or panic disorder.However, many more suffer lesser degrees of anxiety, usually related to stresses in the environment, so that at least 15% of patients attending general practitioners' surgeries seek treat- ment for this unpleasant symptom.'For many years the stock treatment for anxiety was an anxiolytic benzodiazepine, but misgivings over side effects and dependence potential have led many prescribers to lessen or eschew their use.Instead, a variety of treatments, drug and non-drug, are being tried.The purpose of this article is to review the present status of the treatment of anxiety, in as practical a way as possible,2 in line with previously published guidelines.3Box 1-Anxiety disorders * Generalised anxiety