Audio Recording for Independent Confirmation of Clinical Assessments in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Conclusion. The audio-digital recording method provides a useful second opinion that can affirm the need for a different treatment intervention in these anxious patients. A second live assessment would have required additional clinic time and added patient burden. The audio-digital recording method is less burdensome than live second opinion assessments and might have utility in both research and clinical practice settings. Keywords: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), anxiolytic medications, anxious symptoms, audio-digital recording, dual review, second opinions Anxiety symptoms are prevalent in most populations where people experience the stress of modern life. A cluster of anxiety symptoms becomes an anxiety disorder when the symptoms are difficult to control, cause significant distress for the person, and impact the ability to function.1,2 It has been reported that patients who meet diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) might also have substantial economic and social burden as a consequence of the disorder.3–7 There are several effective treatments for GAD, including psychotropic medications, complementary and alternative medicines, psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and/or other nonpharmacological strategies that can be given to address troubling and/or disruptive anxiety symptoms.6–10 The use of psychotropic medications for treating anxiety symptoms, including approved antidepressants, is sometimes challenged because other treatment a...
Source: Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Current Issue Original Research anxiolytic medications anxious symptoms audio-digital recording dual review Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) second opinions Source Type: research