NICE updates guidance on anxiety
February 25, 2011 by admin
Nice has updated its guidance on managing generalised anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepines should not be offered as treatment for generalised anxiety disorder (except as short term crisis help), and nor should antipsychotics in primary care. It says sertraline can be considered, but that as of January 2011, it did not have UK marketing authorisation for this indication so documented informed consent is needed.
The guidance stresses the importance of considering each person’s needs and preferences, and on good communication. The first step should be education about the disorder and active monitoring, followed by low-intensity psychological intervention such as guided self-help. After that, the choice is between more intensive psychological intervention or drug treatment. A final layer consists of more complex and intensive specialist interventions. Recommendations for panic disorder, also included in this guideline, have not changed.
How to prescribe for anxiety
May 26, 2009 by admin
This useful review discusses the characteristics of anxiety and panic and explains that in primary care, anxiety can be broadly seen as being one of three types: generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and phobia. NICE guidance from 2004 covers the management of GAD and panic disorder and the article discusses treatment options highlighting the mainstay of drug treatment for anxiety, paroxetine.
Warren E. Prescribing for anxiety. Practice Nurse 2009; 37(8): 34-38.
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