Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management

Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

This guideline covers the care and treatment of people aged 18 and over with generalised anxiety disorder (chronic anxiety) or panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia or panic attacks). It aims to help people achieve complete relief of symptoms (remission), which is associated with better functioning and a lower likelihood of relapse.

In June 2020, we updated the information on the classes of antidepressants suitable for longer-term management of panic disorder and added links to MHRA advice on citalopram and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

In July 2019, we updated footnotes and tables in this guideline to reflect a change in the law relating to pregabalin and gabapentin. As of 1 April 2019, because of a risk of abuse and dependence pregabalin and gabapentin are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as class C substances and scheduled under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 as schedule 3.

MHRA advice on antiepileptic drugs in pregnancy: In July 2022, we linked to the MHRA safety advice on pregabalin risks during pregnancy in the recommendation on drug treatment for people with generalised anxiety disorder who cannot tolerate selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.


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