Anxiety Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment Algorithm
For the Primary Care Physician
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The following diagnosis and treatment guide is a joint creation of the North Carolina
Psychiatric Association and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. The work was
supported in part by a grant from the office of the North Carolina Attorney General.
Background of this grant is available from the office of the NCPA at 919-859-3370.
This guide is intended to be unique in that it emphasizes collaboration between primary care
physicians and psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. It is our belief that while
most anxiety disorders can be treated in the primary care office, the presentation of such
disorders can be sufficiently severe and complicated that consultation and referral to specialist
care is sometimes needed. Co-morbidity and treatment failure are relative indications for
referral.
The following is not an all inclusive cookbook and not all treatment choices are listed. It is
assumed that the primary care physician using this guide will have general familiarity with
anxiety disorders and principles of medication treatment of these disorders. This guide is best
thought of as a tool for continued learning, with places for the primary care physician to
record helpful consultation and referral resources and to make Physician Notes to Self as a
mechanism for continued learning. Treatment guidelines for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
and Specific Phobia are not included but will follow in an addendum.
Referral Resources
Name
Telephone
Mailing Address
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Symptoms of anxiety; worry; fear; avoidance; repetitive, intrusive,
inappropriate thoughts or actions; or unexplained general medical complaint
Consider the role of a general
medical condition or
substance use and whether
the anxiety is better
accounted for by another
mental disorder.
Anxiety Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition (293.84
and specify substance or condition)
Alcohol-Induced Anxiety Disorder (293.84 and specify substance
or condition)
Substance-Induced (including medication) Anxiety Disorder
(293.84 and specify substance or condition)
Other mental disorders
Yes
No
Presenting symptom is
recurrent Panic Attacks
Yes
Panic Disorder With (300.21) or Without (300.01) Agoraphobia
Panic Attacks occurring within the context of other Anxiety
Disorders (e.g., Social Phobia, Specific Phobia, Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
Presenting symptom is fear,
avoidance, or anxious
anticipation about one or
more specific situations
No
Social Phobia (avoidance of social situations in which the person
may be exposed to scrutiny) (300.23)
Yes
Specific Phobia (avoidance of a specific object or situation)
(300.29)
Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia (avoidance of situations in
which escape may be difficult in the event of having a Panic
Attack)
No
Presenting symptoms include
fear of separation
Presenting worry or anxiety is
related to recurrent and
persistent thoughts
(obsessions) and/or ritualistic
behaviors or recurrent mental
acts (compulsions),
Yes
Consider Separation Anxiety Disorder (309.21)
No
Yes
Consider Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (300.3)
No
Presenting symptoms are
related to reexperiencing
highly traumatic events
Pervasive symptoms of
anxiety and worry are
associated with a variety of
events or situations and have
persisted for at least 6 months
Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder (avoidance of a
situation in which escape may be difficult in the event of
developing panic-like symptoms) (300.22)
Yes
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (if symptoms persist at least 4
weeks) (309.81)
Acute Stress Disorder (if symptoms persist for less than 4 weeks)
(308.3)
No
Yes
Consider Generalized Anxiety Disorder (300.02)
No
Symptoms are in response to
a specific, psychosocial
stressor
If clinically significant
anxiety is present but the
criteria are not met for any
of the previously described
disorders
No
Yes
Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety (309.24) or Adjustments Disorder
with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood (309.28)
No
Yes
If the clinician has
determined that a disorder is
not present but wishes to note
the presence of symptoms
Consider Anxiety Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (300.00)
Yes
Consider Anxiety (799.2)
Treatment Guidelines
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Target symptoms:
subjective anxiety/tension, excessive worry, and a variety of physiologic complaints
(GI, musculoskeletal, neurological)
Medication treatment:
Start with SSRIs in doses higher than for depression.
Escitalopram(Lexapro) 10-25 mg. Once Daily
Sertraline(Zoloft) 50-150 mg. Once Daily
ParoxetineCR (PaxilCR) 25-37.5 Once Daily
Or
SNRIs in usual doses
VenlafaxineXR(EffexorXR) 75-225 mg Daily
Or
Buspirone(Buspar)5-15 mg TID Alone or adjunct to above.
Note: often 6-8 weeks before evident response.
Or
Benzodiazepines may be used alone or in combination for ongoing
treatement or in management of periods of exacerbation
Clonazapam(Klonopin) 1-2mg up to TID
Psychotherapy:
Referral to outside or co-located professional for cognitive behavioral
psychotherapy may be effective as adjunct or in lieu of medication.
PHYSICIAN NOTES TO SELF
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Panic Disorder
Target symptoms:
paroxysmal panic attacks, anticipatory anxiety, phobic avoidance
Medication Treatment:
If symptoms are acute, severe and disabling, begin with benzodiazepines
Alprazolam(Xanax) 0.25 to 1 mg TID or QID
Clonazapam(Klonopin) 0.5 to 1 mg BID
Ongoing treatment
beyond acute phase:
SSRIs in doses higher than for depression
Escitalopram(Lexapro) 10-25 mg Once Daily
Sertraline(Zoloft) 50-200 mg Once Daily
Psychotherapy:
A variety of psychoeducational and supportive psychotheraputic approaches have
been found to be helpful in identifying factors that trigger or reinforce symptoms.
Targeted therapies for insight or for marital or other interpersonal dynamics can be
helpful adjunctive therapies.
PHYSICIAN NOTES TO SELF
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Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia
Target symptoms:
persistent anxiety in social and performance settings, excessive shyness.
Medication treatment:
SSRIs in doses higher than that for treatment of depression
ParoxetineCR(Paxil CR) 25-37.5 mg Once Daily
Escitalopram(Lexapro) 20-25 mg Once Daily
Sertraline(Zoloft) 50-200 mg Once Daily
Or
Benzodiazepines: See doses above for Panic Disorder.
Psychotherapy:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy may assist in helping the patient examine and modify
persistent thought patterns that contribute to symptoms.
Theraputic approaches that address self esteem have been found helpful
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Target symptoms:
reduction of intrusive, unwanted thoughts and repetitive actions/behaviors that
cause distress or impairment
Medication treatment:
SSRIs in doses greater than those for depression.
See medications/doses above for Panic Disorder
Or
Clomipramine(Anafranil) titrate from starting dose of 25 mg daily
up to final dose of 150-250mg Once Daily. Increase as tolerated.
Sedation may require H.S. dosing.
And/Or
Benzodiazepines may be necessary for severe presentation, or as
adjunctive therapy.
See medications/doses as above for Panic Disorder
And/Or
OCD can present as a severe and disabling condition. Low doses of
the atypical antipsychotics have been helpful in such cases.
Risperidone(Risperdal) 0.25-1 mg Once or Twice Daily
Psychotherapy:
Traditional behavioral or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy have been found to be
useful adjunctive therapies
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