Pharmacology of Anxiety Disorders

Course overview

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders and are underdiagnosed and undertreated (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2021). Anxiety is an adaptive response during stressful situations and helps prepare an individual to react to environmental changes. When the symptoms of anxiety become persistent and debilitating, or occur frequently in the absence of stimuli, an anxiety disorder may be present (APA, 2021). In these cases, the symptoms are severe and impair daily living. There are a wide variety of anxiety disorders, with varying reports of prevalence. Estimates of prevalence range between 15.6 to 19.1% of adults in the U.S. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020; National Institutes of Mental Health [NIMH], n.d.). The goal of this course is to provide an overview of pharmacological options for those members of the healthcare team that may treat anxiety disorders.