Treatment of anxiety disorders is based on drug and / or psychological interventions. In all cases, medical care is necessary to set up an adequate therapy, adapted to the patient’s needs, his symptoms and his family and social situation.

Psychological care

A support psychological is necessary in case of anxiety disorders.

It may even constitute the only treatment, or be associated with pharmacological treatment, depending on the severity of the disorders and the expectations of the person affected.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the therapy that has been the most studied in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including social phobia, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. By focusing on the factors that cause and maintain anxiety and giving the patient tools for control, this type of therapy is generally effective in a sustainable way (12 to 25 sessions of 45 minutes in general). According to the HAS, structured cognitive and behavioral therapies are even as effective as drug treatments.

Other types of therapy, such as mindfulness therapy, have also been shown to be effective in clinical studies. The goal is to pay attention and focus on the present moment, and thus learn to control your anxiety.

Analytical psychotherapy can be initiated to understand the origins of anxiety, but its effectiveness on symptoms is slower and less recognized.

Pharmacological management

If the symptoms are too intense and psychotherapy is not enough to control them (for example in generalized anxiety), drug treatment may be necessary.

Several drugs are recognized for their effectiveness against anxiety, in particular anxiolytics (benzodiazepines, buspirone, pregabalin) which work to fast way, and certain antidepressants which are the background treatment, namely selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

These medicines can cause anxiety to worsen at the start of treatment and close medical supervision is therefore necessary.

Because of the risk dependence, benzodiazepines should be prescribed on a temporary basis (ideally no longer than 2 to 3 weeks). Both initiation and discontinuation of treatment should be supervised by the physician.

As pregabalin does not induce a risk of dependence and its effectiveness is immediate, it is sometimes preferred to benzodiazepines.