A TREATMENT ALGORITHM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY IN PRIMARY-CARE PRACTICE

Patients frequently present to primary care physicians with somatic sy mptoms that mask an underlying anxiety disorder. As a result, unnecess ary diagnostic tests are ordered, and inappropriate medications are pr escribed. Psychiatrists may help improve their primary care colleagues ' ability to identify and treat these anxiety disorders. This paper re views the adverse effects of untreated anxiety in managed care setting s and outlines a treatment algorithm that psychiatrists may wish to us e to assist primary care physicians in the cost-efficient, pharmacolog ic treatment of anxiety disorders in their patients.