Outcomes in a referral cohort of patients with anxiety disorders

This study describes 6- and 12-month outcomes in a referral cohort with anx iety disorders and identifies treatment and prognostic factors related to t hese outcomes. Patients were recruited at three general hospital clinics, t wo psychologist-run clinics, and one psychiatric hospital clinic. Outcomes included severity of symptoms, physical and mental health status, and subje ctive global change in problem severity. Of 254 patients eligible for follo w-up, 165 (65.0%) completed a follow-up questionnaire. Methods of treatment included consultation with return to the primary care physician (38.2%); o r continued treatment at the clinic, with medications (16.4%), psychotherap y (22.4%), or both (23.0%). Both severity of symptoms and mental health sta tus improved but remained abnormal at follow-up. In multiple logistic regre ssion, subjective global improvement was related to a diagnosis of panic di sorder only, treatment with psychotherapy, and type of referral. Change ove r time in symptom severity was related to clinic type, and change over time in mental health was related to clinic type and duration of previous treat ment.