Non‐pharmacological factors in drug treatment of anxiety states

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Abstract
Outpatients (46) with anxiety tension states took part in a study on the effects of anxiolytic drugs. After the 1st interview the subjects also filled in a questionnaire as to their expectations of treatment outcome (n = 41) and their experience of the 1st consultation (n = 42), and the doctors made a prognostic evaluation (n = 46). The relations between these 3 factors and background variables as well as initial ratings and outcome as rated by the doctors at follow-up examinations after 2, 4 and 8 wk were investigated. Expectations, experience and prognosis were not related to each other. Less hopeful patients more often considered conflicts to be the exclusive cause of their disorder and they were rated higher on signs and on the variable difficulties in being with people. Patients with less favorable experience more often considered practical and economic difficulties to be a cause of their disorder. Single or divorced patients were more often judged to have a less favorable prognosis. More positive expectations and a favorable prognosis were to some extent related to a better outcome after 2 and 4 wk and a favorable experience was to some extent related to a better outcome after 4 and 8 wk.