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Anxiety disorders – An update
MODULE 1, 2025
Occasional fear and anxiety are part of everyday life.
Fear is an emotional, physical, and behavioural response to an immediately and obvious threat, such as losing control of your vehicle or on seeing an intruder in your home.
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It is an unpleasant emotional state of nervousness and uneasiness and its causes are less clear. Mild anxiety can be beneficial as it can alert us to danger or help us prepare for an event. Although anxiety can at times be severe, the symptoms are usually short-lived and do not necessarily affect day-to-day functioning. Anxiety that becomes excessive, causes irrational thinking or behaviour, and impairs a person’s functioning is considered an anxiety disorder. The symptoms can have a negative effect on work or school performance and personal relationships. Anxiety disorders are more common than any other type of mental health disorder, with about one-third of people meeting the criteria for an anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime.
Unfortunately, many people with anxiety disorders who might benefit from treatment are not identified or treated. Since patients who have anxiety disorders are often seen in primary care, healthcare providers (including pharmacists) need to be aware of these conditions, how they are recognised and how they can be treated.
This module discusses the more frequently occurring anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.
For more information about this programme, contact Glynis or Gill at Insight Medicine Information at 011 706 6939 or email: cpdalphapharm@insightmed.co.za
