Contemporary approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders

Abstract

Anksiozni poremećaji su široko rasprostranjeni u populaciji i smatraju se najučestalijim psihijatrijskim poremećajima. Većinom se javljaju u mlađoj životnoj dobi. Žene obolijevaju češće od muškaraca. Porast broja ovih poremećaja povezan je i s pozitivnijim i naprednijim stavovima prema mentalnome zdravlju te sve točnijim dijagnozama poremećaja. Liječenje je indicirano kada pacijent pokazuje znakove snažnog distresa. Većinom je moguć tretman izvan bolnice. Postoje brojne metode koje koristi kliničar da pomogne riješiti pacijentove simptome i smanjiti teret bolesti. Plan liječenja bi trebao uključivati farmakoterapiju, psihoterapiju i ostale intervencije. Što će od toga biti odabrano ovisi o individualnim faktorima, pacijentovim željama, dosadašnjim odgovorima na provedenu terapiju, težini bolesti, dostupnosti i troškovima samog liječenja. Od farmakoterapije najčešće se koriste antidepresivi te kratkotrajno anksiolitici poput benzodiazepina, do nastupa djelovanja antidepresiva. Kognitivno-bihevioralna terapija se smatra psihoterapijom izbora za većinu anksioznih poremećaja.Anxiety disorders are widespread in the population and are considered as most frequent psychiatric disorders. They mostly occur in younger age. Women get diagnosed more than men. The increase in the number of these disorders is associated with more positive and more advanced attitudes towards mental health and more accurate diagnoses of the disorder. Treatment is indicated when the patient shows strong distress signs. Mostly, treatment is possible outside of the hospital. There are numerous methods that help the clinician in his work to help to resolve the patient's symptoms and reduce the burden of the disease. The treatment plan should include pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and other interventions. What will be chosen depends on individual factors, patient's wishes, past responses to the therapy, severity of the disease, availability and cost of the treatment itself. Antidepressants are mostly used, often combined with anxyiolitics such as benzodiazepines before the onset of antidepressant aciton. Cognitive-bihevioral therapy is considered as fist line psychotherapy for most anxiety disorders