Anxiety disorders: CPG and associated resources

Key practice points

• These guidelines provide evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations for the treatment of adults with panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.
•  Consensus-based recommendations were made where there was insufficient high quality evidence to allow specific recommendations for one treatment over another.
• Initial treatment should be selected in collaboration with the patient from evidence-based options, taking into account symptom severity, patient preference, accessibility and cost. 
• Recommended initial treatment options for all three anxiety disorders are:
  • cognitive–behavioural therapy (face-to-face or delivered by computer, tablet or smart-phone application)
  • pharmacotherapy (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor together with advice about graded exposure to anxiety triggers)
  • combination of cognitive–behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy.

Community resources

• Information for the public on anxiety disorders