Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is a normal emotional state which provides protection against hazardous situations. Anxiety disorder denotes a state where anxiety is intense, long lasting and restricts both psychological and social functioning. In chronic or intense anxiety, the nature and background factors of the condition should be assessed. Unhurried exploration of the patient's problems, cognitive reconstruction of the cause-effect relationships and analysis of the patient's emotions are all elements of the assessment and treatment strategy of anxiety. Temporary medication may be indicated if anxiety causes disability. However, long-term pharmacotherapy may be required in severe chronic anxiety.Dissociation is often associated with psychic traumatisation. It may be manifested as both psychological and somatic symptoms. Dissociation is connected with a disturbance in the integration of consciousness, memory, identity and perception.