Anxiety is a natural and sensible reaction to warn us of danger. However, an anxiety disorder is present when anxiety reactions occur even in situations that are actually harmless. Depending on the severity and type of the disorder, it may no longer be possible for those affected to leave their own home or maintain social contacts.

The symptoms are usually very intense, both mentally and physically. These include, for example

• Palpitations, dizziness, nausea
• Sweating
• Feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest
• Shortness of breath, trembling
• Brooding, constant worry
• Feelings of panic

As part of therapy, sufferers learn tools to cope with the symptoms in everyday life and work on the causes. A fundamental factor here is understanding one's own illness (psychoeducation). A combination with psychopharmacological therapy can also prove useful and must be carried out after consultation with a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapeutic medicine.

A detailed clinical-psychological diagnosis can be used to clarify the type and severity of the anxiety disorder as well as the individual conditions that maintain it. The further treatment steps can then be targeted and adapted to the individual person.

Diagnostics

Prior to clinical-psychological diagnostics, an examination by a specialist in psychiatry should take place in any case. However, a referral can also be made by your treating psychologist or psychotherapist. A detailed assessment of the symptoms and a recommendation for the next steps will then be made as part of the clinical-psychological diagnosis.

The clinical-psychological diagnostics (50 min/unit) includes the following elements:

1 session: Medical history, exploratory interview
1–3 sessions: Administration of standardized diagnostic instruments (questionnaires, interviews, tests)
1 session: Discussion of findings