Psychotherapy

Many patients have a preference for psychological treatments over medication.   Certain forms of psychotherapy, such as exposure therapy, cognitive therapy and cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) have proved effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. 

As with medication, the response is sometimes not immediate, and symptoms can worsen before any improvement occurs.  Prolonged courses of therapy are often needed to maintain the benefits and problems may reoccur when treatment stops.

Some anxiety disorders benefit from combined treatment of both medication and psychotherapy.  Patients may be offered a choice of treatment approach, though this choice will be affected by the condition, symptoms, needs and preferences, as well as availability of services.

Patients with more than mild symptoms are unlikely to improve significantly through self-help approaches alone.