Alternatives for Anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by worry that is difficult to control and that negatively affects quality of life; symptoms include poor sleep, headaches, and muscle tension.[1]
The lifetime prevalence rate of GAD ranges from 6%to 17% worldwide, and in any given year, up to 40 million US adults meet criteria for an anxiety disorder.[1,2] Remission rates are low even with pharmacotherapy, and up to 60% of patients do not achieve remission.[3] Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been found to be helpful in the long term.
Other primary anxiety disorders include phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, all of which can cause distress and disability. Anxiety is often also a comorbidity associated with primary conditions, such as migraine and irritable bowel syndrome, and stressful situations, such as surgery or the loss of a loved one.
Many patients avoid professional care because of stigma and instead seek alternative therapies. Complementary and self-help options—often without strong evidence for efficacy—are widely available online and in health food stores. Categories of therapies include lifestyle management and stress reduction strategies, mind/body interventions, herbals, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and homeopathy.[4,5]
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Cite this: What Can CAM Do for Anxiety? - Medscape - Dec 03, 2014.
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