Anxiety disorders are amongst the most common of all mental health problems. Research in this field has exploded over recent years, yielding a wealth of new information in domains ranging from neurobiology to cultural anthropology to evidence-based treatment of specific disorders. This book offers a variety of perspectives on new developments and important controversies relevant to the theory, research, and clinical treatment of this class of disorders. Clinicians will find reviews of state-of-the-art treatments for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as controversies over diagnostic and treatment issues. Researchers will find in-depth consideration of important selected topics, including genetics, neuroimaging, animal models, contemporary psychoanalytic theory, and the impact of stressors. This book illustrates the enormous advances that have occurred in anxiety research and describes the evolving multi-disciplinary efforts that will shape the future of the field.

Anxiety affects millions, manifesting as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias, post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder. Not only are anxiety disorders common, but they are also crippling, frequently co-occurring and predict high risk for depressive disorders. Shared mechanisms may explain the overlapping features of many anxiety disorders and account for associations with other highly-impairing conditions, such as major depression and substance use. Beyond risk for specific disorders, anxiety also predicts a number of other adverse outcomes, including suicidal behavior, medical problems, social, and economic difficulties. Conversely, disorder-specific mechanisms may also exist and explain the unique features of each syndrome. Thus, it is important to understand both shared and specific aspects of anxiety. The Primer on Anxiety Disorders provides early-stage practitioners and trainees, as well as seasoned clinicians and researchers, with need-to-know knowledge on diagnosis and treatment. Clinical cases are used throughout the book to enhance understanding of and illustrate specific disorders, comorbid conditions and clinical issues. To facilitate an integrative approach, content allows clinicians to understand patient characteristics and tailor interventions. The integrated approach of each chapter includes recent research on genetics and neuroscience to understand the mechanisms of anxiety disorders, focusing on the forthcoming new nosology in DSM-5. Chapters further integrate innovative advances in clinical research providing research on a range of discoveries regarding biomarkers of illness, biological predictors of treatments and the effect of treatment on neurocircuitry.

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting both children and adults. Anxiety disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterised by excessive, unrealistic worry that lasts six months or more; in adults, the anxiety may focus on issues such as health, money, or career. In obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) individuals are plagued by persistent, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears; typical obsessions include worry about being contaminated or fears of behaving improperly or acting violently. Panic Disorder, a third type of anxiety disorder, is when people suffer severe attacks of panic which may make them feel like they are having a heart attack or are going crazy for no apparent reason. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can follow an exposure to a traumatic event such as a sexual or physical assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected death of a loved one, or natural disaster. Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia; SAD) is characterised by extreme anxiety about being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule. In regards to specific phobias people with specific phobias suffer from an intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation (such as spiders, dogs, or heights); the level of fear is usually inappropriate to the situation, and is recognised by the sufferer as being irrational. Drugs used to treat anxiety disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). This new book brings together leading research from throughout the world.

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting both children and adults. These disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. This book brings together research in this field from throughout the world.

This state-of-the-art Handbook on the research and treatment of anxiety and related disorders is the most internationally and clinically oriented Handbook currently available, encompassing a broad network of researchers, from leading experts in the field to rising stars. The very first handbook to cover anxiety disorders according to the new DSM-5 criteria Published in two volumes, the International Handbook provides the most wide-ranging treatment of the state-of-the-art research in the anxiety disorders Offers a truly international aspect, including authors from different continents and covering issues of relevance to non-Western countries Includes discussion of the latest treatments, including work on persistence of compulsions, virtual reality exposure therapy, cognitive bias modification, cognitive enhancers, and imagery rescripting Covers treatment failures, transdiagnostic approaches, and includes treatment issues for children as well as the older population Edited by leaders in the field, responsible for some of the most important advances in our understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders 2 Volumes

In this book, the discussion of the normal and pathological aspects of anxiety is critically examined. A chapter on the molecular basis of anxiety is included, outlining the potential of such approach in the discovery of novel effective pharmacological interventions. The face validity, predictability and usefulness of animal models in the design of valid new efficacious products are discussed. Separate chapters dedicated to each particular type of anxiety such as generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic and obsessive-compulive disorder are included. This book should be of benefit to psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, general practitioners, nurses, students and all those engaged in neuropsychiatric research.

This landmark work is indispensable for anyone studying anxiety or seeking to deliver effective psychological and pharmacological treatments. Integrating insights from emotion theory, recent advances in cognitive science and neuroscience, and increasingly important findings from developmental psychology and learning, David H. Barlow comprehensively examines the phenomena of anxiety and panic, their origins, and the roles that each plays in normal and pathological functioning. Chapters coauthored by Barlow with other leading experts then outline what is currently known about the classification, presentation, etiology, assessment, and treatment of each of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders. A definitive resource for researchers and clinicians, this is also an ideal text for graduate-level courses.

Examines anxiety from both biological and behavioural points of view and combines three areas of anxiety - cognitive developments, psychophysiological developments and health development - normally examined independently.

This book presents a comprehensive guide to anxiety disorders, a major mental health concern in Australia. It uniquely explores a biopsychosocial model adopted by the University of Sydney. Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric conditions with a devastating effect on quality of life that is often underestimated. Unfortunately, anxiety is as misunderstood among patients and health practitioners as it is common. While more than 14 percent of Australians exhibit symptoms of anxiety disorders, only half seek treatment. Of great concern is the fact that 40 percent of those who do seek treatment receive misguided advice. Despite this alarming news, there is hope. The Australian mental health community, particularly the faculty of the University of Sydney, is rallying around anxiety research and clinical treatment. The Sydney Handbook of Anxiety Disorders presents the latest and most comprehensive information on the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety. This guide clearly lays out a biopsychosocial model for understanding anxiety that involves biological activity of the brain, psychological theories on attachment, conditioning, cognition and recognition of social triggers. New and traditional psychological and pharmacological treatment options are meticulously analysed in simple language, while case studies give real-life examples of diagnosis and treatment plans. The Sydney Handbook of Anxiety Disorders shares the experience and expertise of the best medical doctors and mental health specialists in Australia. The result is a must-read manual for anxiety sufferers and those who treat them.

This is a detailed analysis of the etiology, assessment, and treatment of GAD by focusing on the cognitive-behavioral model and treatment options for GAD. This book also provides a review of the empirical support for the different models of GAD, a description of the assessment and step-by-step treatment of GAD.