Anxiety Disorders

The purpose of this course is to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to appropriately identify and treat patients with anxiety disorders, addressing knowledge gaps, enhancing clinical skills, and improving patient outcomes. In addition, members of the public may use this course to enhance their personal knowledge of the subject matter presented.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Review basic concepts related to anxiety disorders, including safety behaviors/signals and primary features.
2. Outline the epidemiology of anxiety disorders in the United States.
3. Describe general risk factors for and comorbidities of anxiety disorders.
4. Describe risk factors for and the clinical course of specific anxiety disorders.
5. Discuss the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders in relation to contributing genetic, physiologic, and psychologic factors.
6. Review the pathophysiology of specific anxiety dis­orders, including social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and specific phobia.
7. Evaluate the clinical and diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders presented in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
8. Analyze key components of screening for anxiety disorders.
9. List conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of anxiety disorders.
10. Describe general treatment considerations for anxiety disorders, including predictors of response or nonresponse to therapy.
11. Discuss the role of various psychotherapy approaches in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
12. Outline pharmacotherapy options for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
13. Recognize clinical issues related to the treatment of anxiety disorders.
14. Compare and contrast the treatment recommen­dations for specific anxiety disorders.
15. Analyze the evidence base supporting the efficacy of novel, emerging, and alternative/complementary approaches to the treatment of anxiety disorders.

This 15-hour continuing education course is available for download for professional development; if continuing education credit is desired, please see instructions included in eBook.