Other forms of treatment for anxiety.

Other methods for the treatment of anxiety are discussed--psychotherapeutic, behavioural and pharmacological. Among the psychotherapeutic methods are psychoanalytical and supportive therapy, psycho-education, cognitive therapy and paradoxical intention. Behaviour- modifying methods include systematic desensitization, flooding, thought blocking and biofeedback. However, none of these methods in isolation seems to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Drugs such as beta-blockers, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs and buspirone are reviewed. Buspirone seems to be as effective as the benzodiazepines in the alleviation of anxiety and may have less untoward effects. A few new drugs that are still being evaluated--fenobam, suriclone, synaptamine, fominoben and tracazolate--are mentioned.