FREE ESSAY ON THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS

THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS

The Most Effective Treatment For Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are becoming a widespread epidemic in America. Each year we spend more
than $46 billion dollars, nearly one third of our total mental health bill, treating the
almost 20 million Americans affected by anxiety disorders. With these staggering numbers,
it is no surprise that researchers and experts are examining many different forms of
treatment in order to find more and better ways to diagnose and treat these debilitating
disorders. 
The American Psychiatric Association states that no single situation or condition causes
anxiety disorders. Rather, physical and environmental triggers may combine to create a
particular anxiety illness. Psychoanalytic theory suggests that anxiety stems from
unconscious conflicts that arose from discomfort during infancy or childhood. For
example, a person may carry the unconscious conflict of sexual feelings toward the parent
of the opposite sex. Or the person may have developed problems from experiencing an
illness, fright or other emotionally laden event as a child. By this theory, anxiety can
be resolved by identifying and resolving the unconscious conflict. The symptoms that
symbolize the conflict would then disappear. Learning theory says that anxiety is a
learned behavior that can be unlearned. People who feel uncomfortable in a given
situation or near a certain object will begin to avoid it. However, such avoidance can
limit a patient's ability to live a normal life. 
More recently, research has indicated that biochemical imbalances can be factors. Many
scientists say all thoughts and feelings result from complex electrochemical interactions
in the central nervous system. Moreover, some studies indicate that infusions of certain
biochemicals can cause a panic attack in some people. According to this theory, treatment
of anxiety should correct these biochemical imbalances. Although medications first come
to mind with this theory, remember that studies have found biochemical changes can occur
as a result of emotional, psychological or behavioral changes. No doubt each of these
theories is true to some extent. A person may develop or inherit a biological
susceptibility to anxiety disorders. Events in childhood may lead to certain fears that,
over time, develop into a full-blown anxiety disorder.
Dr. Rolland Bailey, D.O. states in a recent interview, "A variety of factors have been
identified as possible causes of persistent anxiety. There is evidence it may be due to
an imbalance of a chemical called serotonin n the brain. In people with anxiety
disorders, it has been suggested that there is an excess of serotonin. Other chemicals
may also be responsible for causing anxiety. Persistent anxiety has also been shown to
run in families, indicating a possible hereditary influence. Stressful events may also be
causes or triggers of anxiety. 
According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill several factors seem to
contribute to the development of an anxiety disorder. Much new research suggests that
these disorders both run in families and are the result of one's brain chemistry. Certain
life experiences and one's general personality are also thought to influence the
likelihood of having an anxiety disorder.
As indicated by James Herbert, Ph.D. Program Director and Associate Professor of
Psychology at Hahnemann University that while no one knows for certain what causes social
phobia, the scientific research suggests that both biological and environmental factors
are probably involved. People with social phobia have also been shown to have certain
biases in their thinking. For example, they often exaggerate the risks and dangers of
certain social situations.
The treatment options are as varied as the number of professionals treating these
disorders. The problem with treatment options for social anxiety disorders is that,
unlike some other psychological problems, social anxiety is not well understood by the
general public or by medical and mental health care professionals, such as doctors,
psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and counselors. In fact, people
with social anxiety are misdiagnosed almost 90% of the time. People with social phobia
are often labeled as schizophrenic, manic-depressive, clinically depressed, panic
disordered, and personality disordered, among other damaging misdiagnoses.
Social anxiety disorders, like other mental illnesses, reflect dysfunction within the
brain, according to Dr. Steven Hyman, "we are beginning to understand the specific
circuits in the brain that underlie the different illnesses" (1). Most people experience
feeling of anxiety before an important event, so what separates these feeling from true
mental disorders? Anxiety disorders are illnesses that fill people's lives with
overwhelming anxiety and fear that are chronic, unremitting, and can grow progressively
worse. Some individuals are so tormented by panic attacks and obsessive thoughts that
they become housebound. Once the disorder is better understood the treatments for anxiety
disorders become more successful.
The National Institute of Mental Health explains that the various treatments of Social
Anxiety Disorder are as diverse as the range of symptoms different patients experience.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder has been markedly successful.
Research indicates that, after Cognitive Behavior Therapy, people with this problem
report a changed life, one that is no longer controlled by fear and anxiety. National
Institute of Mental Health funded studies report a 90% success rate using cognitive
therapy and a behavioral therapy group. Both are essential to alleviating anxiety
symptoms associated with social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety medication is useful for
many people. For cases of generalized social anxiety, research indicates use of the
anti-anxiety agents, and certain antidepressants in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy have proven most beneficial. As to antidepressants, the Monoamine Oxidase
Inhibitors or MAOI have the highest success rate when combined with Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy. Medication without Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has proven to be only
temporarily successful.
The American Psychiatric Association claims that, generally, anxiety disorders are
treated by a combination approach. Phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders often are
treated by behavior therapy. This involves exposing the patient to the feared object or
situation under controlled circumstances, until the fear is cured or significantly
reduced. Successfully treated with this method, many phobia patients have long-term
recovery. The American Psychiatric Association goes on to say that medications are
effective treatments, sometimes used alone and often-in combination with behavior therapy
or other psychotherapy techniques. In addition to behavior modification techniques and
medication, talking issues out in psychotherapy can be crucial. 
The American Psychiatric Association research indicates that 65 percent of the phobic and
obsessive-compulsive patients who can cooperate with the therapist and conscientiously
follow instructions will recover with behavior therapy. Studies have shown that while
they are taking the medications, 70 percent of the patients who suffer from panic attacks
improve. Medication is effective for about half of those suffering from
obsessive-compulsive disorder 
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America concludes that, many people don't realize
that most anxiety disorders have at least some biological component and often respond to
medications. Medications have proven extremely effective in eliminating or reducing many
of the symptoms of an anxiety disorder and helping the patient regain control or his or
her life. Taken under a doctor's supervision, medications can play a valuable role in
overcoming panic disorder, phobias and other anxiety disorders, such as
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Medication is most effective when combined with
psychological therapies. The chance of recurrence is reduced when medication and
psychological therapies are used together.
The National Mental Health Association finds that treatment for anxiety disorders usually
involves both medication and psychotherapy. Studies have shown with proper treatment,
70-80 percent of people with panic disorders significantly improve and often within 6-8
weeks. 
There are many different drugs used to treat anxiety symptoms; therefore, it is possible
that if one type is not effective, another may be. Many of these medications have side
effects, so the patient should be monitored and observed closely. 
Behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy are also very effective in treating
these disorders. 
Given this evidence, it is clear that there is no single, reliable treatment for social
anxiety disorders. Medications or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, when used by themselves
are only somewhat successful. When combined into a specifically designed program for each
patient, these disorders can not only be treated, but also in a large number of cases,
even cured.