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Treatment Options
Treatment must be specially tailored for each individual, but there are a number of standard approaches. Individuals with anxiety disorders can almost always be treated without being admitted to a hospital.
Generally, therapists use a combination of the following treatments; there is no single correct approach.
NAME |
GOAL |
HOW IT WORKS |
BENEFITS |
DRAWBACKS |
Behavior Therapy |
Modify and gain control over unwanted behavior | Learning to cope with difficult situations, often through controlled exposure to them | Person actively involved in recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime | Can take time to achieve results |
| Cognitive Therapy | Change unproductive thought patterns | Examine feelings and learn to separate realistic from unrealistic thoughts | Person actively involved in recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime | Can take time to achieve results |
Medication |
Resolve symptoms | Help restore chemical imbalances that lead to symptoms | Effective for many people, enables other treatment to move forward | Most medications have side effects |
Relaxation Techniques |
Help resolve stresses that can contribute to anxiety | Breathing re- training, exercise and other skills | Person actively involved in recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime | Can take time to achieve results |
Treatment is successful in as many as 90 percent of anxiety disorder patients. Most people respond best to a combination of the four options summarized in this table. More information about medication is available in another ADAA brochure, Anxiety Disorders and Medication. |
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This material was supported by an educational grant from SmithKline Beecham.
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