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GAD; Anxiety disorder
The goal of treatment is to help you function well during day-to-day life. A combination of medicine and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works best.
Medications are an important part of treatment. Once you start them, do not suddenly stop without talking with your health care provider. Medications that may be used include:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you understand your behaviors and how to gain control of them. You will have 10 to 20 visits over a number of weeks. During therapy you will learn how to:
Avoiding caffeine, illicit drugs, and even some cold medicines may also help reduce symptoms.
A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, enough rest, and good nutrition can help reduce the impact of anxiety.
A support group allows you to talk to people who share common experiences and problems. This may help ease the stress related to a medical condition.
Support groups are not a substitute for effective treatment, but can be a helpful addition to it.
How well a person does depends on the severity of the condition. GAD may continue and be difficult to treat. However, most patients get better with a combination of medication and behavioral therapy.
Depression and substance abuse may occur with an anxiety disorder.
Call your health care provider if you constantly worry and feel anxious and it interferes with your daily activities.
Hoffmann SG, Smits JA. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69:621-632.
Pollack MH, Kinrys G, Delong H, Vasconcelos e Sá D, Simon NM. The pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 41.
Connolly SD, Bernstein GA. Work Group on Quality Issues. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatmetn of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007;46:267-283.
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