Anxiety Programs

Anxiety is a complex condition that can manifest in many ways, such as social phobia, panic attacks or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In a UCLA study published in the journal "Psychiatric Services," researchers found that chronic anxiety disorders affect approximately five percent of Americans and that most individuals with anxiety disorders do not receive adequate treatment. Most doctor-prescribed anxiety treatment programs include medication, therapy or both.

Psychotherapy Programs

• Psychotherapy, or "talk therapy," involves talking with a trained mental health professional to discover the source of the anxiety disorder and learn how to deal with anxiety symptoms. Psychotherapy programs typically last at least 12 weeks and are conducted individually or in a group setting. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is very useful in treating anxiety disorders, as it helps people change the thinking patterns that support their fears, as well as the way they react to anxiety-provoking situations. For example, says the NIMH, "CBT can help people with panic disorder learn that their panic attacks are not really heart attacks and help people with social phobia learn how to overcome the belief that others are always watching and judging them." Exposure-based behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy in which the person gradually encounters the anxiety-triggering object or situation, is also used to treat specific phobias.

Medication Programs

• The main types medications used to treat anxiety disorders are antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and beta-blockers. According to the NIMH, medication will not cure anxiety disorders on its own and should be combined with psychotherapy for maximum benefit. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the primary method of antidepressant treatment for anxiety. SSRIs such as fluoxetine and sertraline combat anxiety by altering the levels of serotonin in the brain. These medications take approximately four to six weeks to reach their full effect. Benzodiazepines can also be useful in treating anxiety. These fast-acting anti-anxiety drugs are usually only prescribed for short periods of time. Doctors may also prescribe beta-blockers, which help prevent the physical symptoms that accompany certain anxiety disorders, such as social phobia.

Research Programs

• Research programs, usually conducted by university psychiatry departments or research institutes, often provide anxiety treatment, free of cost, to participants in anxiety research studies. These treatment programs may include psychotherapy, medication or an experimental treatment. Research programs typically seek out participants who belong to a particular demographic; for example, one such program sought participants who were smokers and also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. These free programs may last from a few weeks to a year, depending on the study. Two universities that conduct anxiety research programs are UCLA, through its Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, through its Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.

Complementary and Alternative Treatment Programs

• Other anxiety treatments include complementary treatment programs, used in conjunction with traditional treatment for anxiety, or alternative treatment programs, used in place of traditional treatment. Complementary and alternative practices used to treat anxiety disorders may include herbal remedies, acupuncture or yoga. However, according to the National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, clinical trials for many complementary and alternative therapies are often lacking; therefore, the safety and effectiveness of many of these therapies are uncertain. One type of complementary/alternative therapy that research has proven effective for treating anxiety is exercise. A University of Georgia study, published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," analyzed 40 randomized clinical trials involving nearly 3,000 patients with various medical conditions. The researchers found that, on average, patients who exercised regularly had 20 percent less anxiety symptoms those who did not exercise.