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1st
appeared 5 May 1999
UCSF To Take Part in National Anxiety Disorders
Screening Day
The UCSF Medical Center department of psychiatry will
take part in National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day on Wednesday, May 5 by offering a
free lecture on anxiety disorders and free screenings with clinicians. The event will take
place between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the auditorium at 401 Parnassus Avenue.
More than 19 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, which are characterized by
fear and anxiety that appear for no apparent reason. Anxiety disorders can keep people
from coping with stress and can disrupt daily life. They are the most common of all mental
disorders and include panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress
disorder, phobias and generalized anxiety disorder. Medication, cognitive-behavioral
therapy, and relaxation exercises help a significant percentage of people who suffer from
severe anxiety.
"Everyone experiences some anxiety in their lives," says Lynn Martin, a UCSF
clinical research specialist at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. "But there
is a threshold where anxiety becomes destructive. We hope to identify those people who
might benefit from formal psychiatric consultations or self-help techniques."
Individual screenings will consist of a self-administered questionnaire followed by a
meeting with a UCSF Langley Porter staff member. People who show signs of an anxiety
disorder will be referred to additional information and resources.
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day is a national event where hospitals and mental
health treatment centers all over the country provide free screening for individuals who
might be suffering from anxiety. For more information on National Anxiety Disorders
Screening Day at UCSF call 415/476-7406.
Source: Rebecca Sladek
Nowlis, News Services |
