Short course
5.2
Treating anxiety disorders
Full text
article
www.mja.com.au
© 1998 MJA
| Rationale for psychological treatments
| Anxiety is a normal emotion and a powerful motivator. |
| | Mild to moderate levels of anxiety improve the ability to cope, reactions become faster, understanding is better and responses are more appropriate.
|
| | High levels of anxiety reduce the capacity to plan, make accurate judgements, carry out skilled tasks, and comprehend useful information.
|
| | Anxiolytic drugs can remove high anxiety, but at the risk of removing the moderate levels of anxiety that are an important aid to performance.
|
| | Psychological treatments (especially cognitive-behavioural therapies) can restore the mental health of anxious people and overcome the debilitating effects of excessive anxiety.
|
| Anxiety disorders are curable, given a skilful practitioner and a hard-working patient.
|
|
