Anti-anxiety agents: a pharmacoepidemiological review

✍ Scribed by Christer Allgulander

• Book ID: 101281359
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 131 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(199904)14:3<149::aid-hup78>3.0.co;2-m

✦ Synopsis

The purpose of this review is to broaden the base for informed policy and to identify research issues to improve the utility of anti-anxiety agents. Data quality is discussed and the prevalence of morbid anxiety and the exposure to treatment with, and abuse of, anti-anxiety agents in dierent populations is presented. Findings concerning undertreatment, quality of life and misdiagnosing are also discussed. Based on the ®ndings of this review, controlled studies of anti-anxiety treatments in anxious patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus or other chronic somatic conditions should be prioritised. These are likely to show substantial and vital bene®ts by not only controlling symptoms and improving coping capacity, but also by improving social functioning and somatic disease management. Investing in improved detection and management of patients with anxious and/or depressive disorders in many forms of care will pay rapid direct and indirect dividends.