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Suggest Treatment For Panic Attacks And Anxiety

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Posted on Mon, 16 Nov 2015
Question: have a axis gaf 40 can't sleep panic attacks 2hrs a day sleep or none at all help...
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Anti-anxiety medication and psychotherapy

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HealthcaareMagic. I am a neurologist and I would like to try and help you.

Reading your question I must say though that there is too little information. Axis GAF score (which by the way is not used anymore now), is a functioning score but it says nothing on your diagnosis, history (onset, evolution) and treatment that you have tried. I assume it is a case of anxiety disorder but if I am wrong please provide more information.

Now regarding treatment, since it is a case of anxiety disorder with panic attacks, insomnia impaired functioning I think medication is needed, psychotherapy alone is not enough. The mainstay of treatment are antidepressants. I suggest a sedative antidepressant like amitriptyline as it should help sleep as well. This class of drugs needs some weeks of treatment to reach full effect though, so often for the first few weeks they are accompanied with a benzodiazepine (like alprazolam) to alleviate the symptoms. Benzodiazepines are not used for more than 3 weeks though as they create tolerance and dependence, but by that time the anti-anxiety effect of the antidepressant will be present.

Psychotherapy is also an important means, using cognitive psychotherapy (helping understand how false beliefs and distorted thoughts lead to exaggerated emotional responses) and/or behavioral psychotherapy (progressive exposure to anxiety provoking stimuli in order to reach desensitization).

I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Panic Attacks And Anxiety

Brief Answer: Anti-anxiety medication and psychotherapy Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to HealthcaareMagic. I am a neurologist and I would like to try and help you. Reading your question I must say though that there is too little information. Axis GAF score (which by the way is not used anymore now), is a functioning score but it says nothing on your diagnosis, history (onset, evolution) and treatment that you have tried. I assume it is a case of anxiety disorder but if I am wrong please provide more information. Now regarding treatment, since it is a case of anxiety disorder with panic attacks, insomnia impaired functioning I think medication is needed, psychotherapy alone is not enough. The mainstay of treatment are antidepressants. I suggest a sedative antidepressant like amitriptyline as it should help sleep as well. This class of drugs needs some weeks of treatment to reach full effect though, so often for the first few weeks they are accompanied with a benzodiazepine (like alprazolam) to alleviate the symptoms. Benzodiazepines are not used for more than 3 weeks though as they create tolerance and dependence, but by that time the anti-anxiety effect of the antidepressant will be present. Psychotherapy is also an important means, using cognitive psychotherapy (helping understand how false beliefs and distorted thoughts lead to exaggerated emotional responses) and/or behavioral psychotherapy (progressive exposure to anxiety provoking stimuli in order to reach desensitization). I hope to have been of help.