Anxiety Disorders in Clinical Practice (Clinical Observation and Literature Review)

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders. The high prevalence of anxiety disorders and their negative impact on the functioning and quality of life of patients determines the need for timely diagnosis and therapy. The review presents data on the clinical manifestations of anxiety, as well as on the main forms of anxiety disorders according to current classifications of mental disorders. An analysis is conducted on the relationship between somatic and cognitive manifestations of anxiety, explaining the difficulties in diagnosing and treating patients with a predominance of somatic symptoms. Cognitive features specific to patients with anxiety disorders are described. Approaches to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of anxiety disorders are provided, along with information on main psychometric scales. The importance of a clinical approach in diagnosing anxiety disorders is justified, and the role of para-clinical methods in establishing a diagnosis is described. According to recent consensus documents and clinical guidelines, the first-line therapies for anxiety disorders are cognitive-behavioral therapy and the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; the basics of both methods are described. Considering current research, both approaches have drawbacks, which necessitates the use of medication with an alternative mechanism of action. One such medication is the modern multimodal anxiolytic Aviandr, which has demonstrated high effectiveness and safety in treating patients with the most severe form of anxiety disorders – generalized anxiety disorder. The main points of the review are illustrated with a clinical example of the successful use of Aviandr in a patient with generalized anxiety disorder.