Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety

Course Overview

Even before the pandemic upended our lives, anxiety was the most common mental health disorder in the U.S. Since then, the world has continued to experience disruptive events that have had far-reaching effects and have resulted in unprecedented levels of anxiety and mood disturbance in the general population. This unstable environment co-exists with a shortage of mental health providers and considerable burnout among those still practicing in the field. We are surely living in an age of anxiety. 

Who is suffering from anxiety, and how does it manifest? Why are we seeing these trends? And what can we do to help our patients manage? Join colleagues and faculty experts in person to dig into these questions. 

This course will review updates in the diagnosis and management of anxiety disorders in various populations, from both the psychosocial and pharmacological frames. In addition, we'll explore the more systemic disruptions that are now leading to increased anxiety, such as the warming climate, ubiquitous presence of technology, and social trends. Participants will enhance their clinical practice by identifying and applying targeted strategies to reduce anxiety, foster resiliency, and promote social and emotional growth in their patients. We welcome all health and mental health clinicians interested in the prevention and treatment of anxiety and its related disorders. 

Who Should Attend

• Primary Care Physicians
• Specialty Physicians
• Physician Assistants
• Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Counselors 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the unique characteristics and trends of specific populations of patients that suffer from anxiety, including children, older adults, gender expansive folks, and pregnant people.
• Summarize unique stressors and environmental issues that contribute to anxiety in different cultural groups.
• Identify and apply in clinical settings how anxiety can be harnessed to develop self-awareness, interpersonal connection, resilience-building, and acceptance of adversity.
• Discuss the influence of social media and "always on" internet culture on the mental health of adolescents.
• Describe how climate change affects mental health, and how to address eco-anxiety specifically.
• List several digital therapeutics that exist for the treatment of anxiety, and outline how they can be assessed and incorporated into clinical practice.
• Apply the techniques of the Unified Protocol to treat anxiety.
• Discuss the optimal use of psychopharmacologic agents in various patient scenarios.
• Review recent research data on the use of psychedelics and mindfulness techniques for anxiety.
• Outline an example of the integrated care model for behavioral health.
• Devise strategies to address workplace-related anxiety in patients and in themselves.