Conditions Treated

Avance Psychiatry offers diagnoses and cutting edge, outpatient treatment for Anxiety.

GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, in any given year. The mean age of onset of anxiety disorders is a strikingly young age of 11 years old, although GAD can occur at any age. The condition affects twice as many women as men.

The exact cause of GAD is not known, but a number of factors appear to contribute to its development including brain chemistry (neurotransmitters are out of balance), genetics and environment (trauma and stressful events such as abuse, the death of a loved one, divorce, changing jobs or schools).

Anxiety is highly treatable (up to 90% of cases), but only one-third of those who suffer from it receive treatment.

Treatment for Anxiety

Psychotherapy for Anxiety
Psychotherapy is often used either alone or in combination with medications to treat anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy involves a variety of treatment techniques, most commonly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps the patient identify and work through the factors that may be triggering the anxiety. Relaxation exercises are also addressed to help the patient reduce his or her anxiety levels.

Medication for Anxiety
Medication treatment of anxiety disorders is generally safe and effective and is often used in conjunction with therapy. Medication may be a short-term or long-term treatment option, depending on severity of symptoms. The four major classes of medications used for anxiety disorders are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), Benzodiazepines and Tricyclic Antidepressants.

Ketamine IV infusions are being used with great success for hard-to-treat cases of GAD. Unlike traditional SSRIs or SNRIs that can take weeks to months to begin working, the benefits of Ketamine can be felt by the patient within 24 hours. This is great news for people with very severe symptoms of anxiety.