New developments in alleviating anxiety

Patients often present to the primary care physician with anxiety disorders; however, the diagnosis is often overlooked. Pharmacotherapy improves the core symptoms and quality of life in patients with these disorders; SSRIs have been shown to be effective for this indication. Longer treatment with SSRIs is associated with a better outcome, because there is continual improvement in symptomatology over time-early drug withdrawal is associated with relapse. Cognitive therapy can be a useful adjunct.