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Dominique Taylor

Ms. Suzanne Ingram

English 1103-036

20 November, 2012

3 Side Essay

The first group discussing my topic of treatment of general anxiety disorder (GAD) is a group of

professors of psychiatry and clinical psychologists. This specific group of psychologist wrote a clinicians

guide about the different types of anxiety disorders and treatment from a clinicians point of view. They

believe that treatment should be directed toward relieving general factors that seem to predispose

anxiety, and reducing fears specific to the particular type of anxiety disorder. Other goals of treatment

include patients coming to terms with the fact that anxiety is natural so patients will stop avoiding

situations that cause anxiety and learn coping skills to manage their anxiety (Andrews 5-6).

Three types of treatment are discussed for GAD, psychological, pharmacological, and combing

pharmacological and psychological treatment. Each treatment has its advantages and disadvantages and

none provide a cure for GAD. In the end, treatment should include, at minimum, information about the

nature of the disorder as well as addressing the beliefs, attitudes, and expectations relevant to worries and

fears (Andrews 406). Based on their research and experience in the field of psychology, pharmacological

and psychological treatments are not sufficient on their own according to this group.

The next group is the group of general practitioners who are not specialists in identifying the

mental aspect of disease, or mental diseases at all. This group has to address the statistic of the high rate

of misdiagnosis of mental disorders, specifically. This group uses the pharmacological approach to

treating anxiety, with possible referrals to a therapist. Doctors focus on controlling and minimizing the

physical results of anxiety (shaking, hyperventilation, insomnia etc.), rather than address the

psychological factors that trigger the physical reactions.

Doctors are not equipped with the educational background to differentiate between the patient

with insomnia, and the patient with insomnia due to anxiety. This can hinder the patient from receiving

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proper treatment, as well as increase the rate of miss diagnosis. Some think that this inability to correctly

identify the type of disorder is not an issue because treatments for most anxiety disorders start of the same

with drugs and therapy. Because anxiety patients often show no blatant physical harm, doctors may fail to

appreciate the long term damage that anxiety does to the body (Primary).

My last group is the anxiety patients themselves. Patients are concerned with receiving the best

treatment possible. Because their treatment depends on their doctors diagnosis, they are subject to any

error doctors may make. Patients struggle with acknowledge their anxiety for what it is. Because of this,

patients may go years without being diagnosed, which can result in their anxieties worsening (Galynker).

Patients personal, work, and social live are hindered by anxiety (Andrews 6). Anxiety causes

strains on their body, and often occurs with other disorders such as depression, insomnia, and

schizophrenia. Anxiety can cause patients to have break downs, or anxiety attacks which take a toll on the

body as well. Patients may feel hopeless, and afraid that they are weird. So they may not seek help. They

more isolate themselves, or lash out at their loved ones. Patients who take the first step to seek out

treatment are the most successful because they desire to change their situations. After accepting their

conditions, patients must not avoid the situations that cause anxiety or they will perpetuate irrational

fears (Andrews 6).

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Works Cited

Andrews, Gavin, Creamer, Mark, Brocco, Crinno, Hunt, Caroline, Lampe, Lisa, and Page, Andrew. The

Treatment of Anxiety Disorders. 2nd edition. Cambridge: Cambridge, University Press, 2003. Print.

Galynker, Igor I. Talking to Families about Mental Illness: What Clinicians Need to Know. New York:

W.W. Norton, 2011. Print. 181-186

Kahn, Katherine. "Primary Care Doctors Fail to Recognize Anxiety Disorders. Health Behavior News

Service. N.p., 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 01 Nov. 2012