In patients with suspected anxiety disorder, other diseases should be excluded for physical findings, if any. Physical diseases should not be missed in people with both anxiety disorder, heart disease or thyroid disease. Therefore, a good history and physical examination should be done.

Diagnosis of anxiety disorder 

In patients with suspected anxiety disorder, other diseases should be excluded for physical findings, if any. Physical diseases should not be missed in people with both anxiety disorder, heart disease or thyroid disease. Therefore, a good history and physical examination should be done.

Tests for signs and symptoms (ECG, blood tests, urine tests, imaging methods, etc.) may be requested. Alcohol and drug addiction should be questioned.



Anxiety disorder falls under the specialty of psychiatry. The psychiatrist applies the diagnosis and treatment in coordination with the psychologist or other specialties when needed.

Anxiety disorder diagnostic criteria:

  • Encountering difficulties in work, school or family life due to the person’s anxieties,
  • Anxiety causes problems in the person’s work, school, family, neighbor, relative and friend relationships,
  • Anxiety occupies one’s mind for most of the day,
  • Difficulty controlling one’s fears and anxieties
  • This condition has been going on for at least 6 months,
  • The appearance of signs and symptoms almost every day,
  • The signs and symptoms are not due to alcohol and drug addiction or chronic diseases (thyroid, etc.).
  • Having at least three of the following symptoms accompanying the anxiety and worry:
  • Unrest,
  • Don’t get tired quickly,
  • Difficulty focusing and concentrating
  • Mental tension, irritability,
  • Muscle fatigue, tension,
  • Insomnia

Treatment of anxiety disorder:

In anxiety disorder, the person cannot cope with the signs and symptoms on his own, and if he has difficulty in carrying out his daily life, he should seek medical help.

The aim of treatment is to reduce anxiety and worry, and to increase the maintenance of normal activities despite anxiety and worries. If the disease is accompanied by conditions such as alcohol addiction, alcohol addiction may need to be treated first.

The course of treatment may be long in some patients.



Treatment options:

Psychotherapy:

Cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation therapies can be applied. Group therapies can be tried. One-hour therapies per week for 3-4 months may not work for all or all patients. However, there are studies that show that it can be as effective as drug treatment alone. It is applied in combination with drug therapy in most patients.

Medication:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine or anxiolytic drugs such as alprazolam, clonazepam and diazepam are used. Medication can have some side effects. Some possible drug side effects include:

  • Weakness, fatigue,
  • Sleep problems,
  • Headache,
  • Dizziness,
  • Dry mouth,
  • Sexual problems,
  • Diarrhea, constipation,
  • Increased/decreased appetite
  • Blurred vision

In the treatment of anxiety disorder, depending on the severity of the disease and the patient’s condition, recommendations such as quitting smoking, not using alcohol, exercising regularly, and reducing caffeine can be made.



Tags: