Anxiety Disorder

Exercise as a transdiagnostic intervention for improving mental health: An umbrella review.

Solmi M, Basadonne I, Bodini L, Rosenbaum S, Schuch FB, Smith L · Journal of psychiatric research · 2025

Exercise is beneficial for mental health in general, but no review has systematically assessed its potential transdiagnostic nature, i.e. whether it is beneficial across specific disorders. We performed a systematic umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise in participants with mental disorders defined according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), assessing exercise's transdiagnostic nature with TRANSD criteria, including eight meta-analyses (six included in the TRANSD meta-analysis), encompassing 99 RCTs (n = 5,656) across 11 disorders. Moderate/vigorous aerobic exercise was an effective transdiagnostic intervention for disease-specific primary symptoms across 11 disorders (recurrent depressive disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, brief psychotic disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffecti

CBT treatment delivery formats for generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Liu S, Xiao H, Duan Y, Shi L, Wang P, Cao L · Translational psychiatry · 2025 · n=4361

To assess the comparative efficacy and acceptability of different delivery formats of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science from database inception to September, 2023, to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of CBT for patients with GAD. Pairwise and network meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Finally, 52 trials that randomized 4361 patients (mean age 43 years; 69.7% women) with generalized anxiety disorder met the inclusion criteria. The most studied treatment comparisons were individual and remote CBT versus waiting list. The quality of the evidence was typically of low or unclear risk of bias (39 out of 52 trials, 75%). The network meta-analysis including 30 studies showed that individual CBT was superior to remote CBT (SMD 0.96; 95% Cl 0.13-1.79), treatment as usual (SMD 1.12; 95% Cl 0.24-2.00) and waiting list (SMD 1.62; 95% Cl 1.03-2.22) in relie

Efficacy of acupuncture for generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review.

Lai J, Wang Y, Yao X, Yu J, Lu S, Lu J · Annals of general psychiatry · 2025 · n=209

This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with a particular focus on acupuncture alone and acupuncture combined with medication, compared with medication or sham acupuncture. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and ClinicalTrials.gov up to August 31, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for GAD were independently screened and extracted by two reviewers following strict quality assessment. Risk of bias was evaluated using the RoB 2.0 tool, evidence certainty was assessed with the GRADE approach, and meta-analyses were conducted with RevMan 5.3. Subgroup analyses were performed according to comparator type and acupuncture parameters (treatment modality, duration, fre

The effects of L-theanine supplementation on the outcomes of patients with mental disorders: a systematic review.

Moshfeghinia R, Sanaei E, Mostafavi S, Assadian K, Sanaei A, Ayano G · BMC psychiatry · 2024

When utilized as an adjunct with antidepressants, antipsychotics, and other psychopharmacological drugs, certain amino acids, such as L-Theanine (LT), have shown potential effectiveness in enhancing the symptomatic outcomes of patients with mental disorders. Despite this, there is a lack of previous systematic reviews examining these associations. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials examining these relationships. A comprehensive systematic review was conducted, scouring six electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL Complete, and Cochrane) from their inception up to June 2023, specifically focusing on randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of LT supplementation on the outcomes of patients with mental health disorders. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials was employed to assess the quality of the included studies. Among the 419 publications identified, 11 studies from six countries

Probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic and fermented food supplementation in psychiatric disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials.

Ribera C, Sánchez-Ortí JV, Clarke G, Marx W, Mörkl S, Balanzá-Martínez V · Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 2024

The use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics or fermented foods can modulate the gut-brain axis and constitute a potentially therapeutic intervention in psychiatric disorders. This systematic review aims to identify current evidence regarding these interventions in the treatment of patients with DSM/ICD psychiatric diagnoses. Forty-seven articles from 42 studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed in all included studies. Major depression was the most studied disorder (n = 19 studies). Studies frequently focused on schizophrenia (n = 11) and bipolar disorder (n = 5) and there were limited studies in anorexia nervosa (n = 4), ADHD (n = 3), Tourette (n = 1), insomnia (n = 1), PTSD (n = 1) and generalized anxiety disorder (n = 1). Except in MDD, current evidence does not clarify the role of probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of mental illness. Several studies point to an im

Interventions for generalized anxiety disorder.

Byrne GJ · Current opinion in psychiatry · 2023

To provide an overview of recently published work on anxiety, focusing on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and its treatment. Self-reported anxiety symptoms were highly prevalent during the COVID-19 global pandemic in both the general population and in selected groups. There remains divided opinion about whether internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is noninferior to face-to-face CBT for GAD. A systematic review of drug treatment for GAD showed efficacy for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), agomelatine, and quetiapine. There may be a place for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of GAD. There was some evidence of efficacy for complementary therapies, including physical exercise, yoga, acupuncture, and Withania somnifera (ashwagandha). However, a systematic review of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol found insufficient evidence of efficacy in anxiety disorders. Antidepressants and quetiapine show efficacy in the treatment of G

The effects of Omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and everyday memory in individuals with psychological distress: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Azhar W, Qadhi A, Abusudah W, Ghabashi M, Aljaadi AM, Alyamani R · Journal of affective disorders · 2026 · n=64

Psychological stress, anxiety, depression, memory impairment, and poor sleep quality are prevalent issues that affect individuals' quality of life and overall health. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to have mood-regulating effects. However, there is lack of data on the effect of omega-3 supplementation on depression, stress, anxiety, everyday memory, and sleep quality on Saudi population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, everyday memory, and sleep quality in individuals with severe psychological distress. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 64 participants with high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, memory issues and with poor quality of sleep with 32 allocated to the intervention group and 32 to the control group. The participants received either omega-3 supplementation (500 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA) or a placebo dai

Effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in post-stroke depression and anxiety disorders: a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study.

Kalaoğlu E, Kesiktaş FN, Bucak ÖF, Atasoy M, Günderci A · Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society · 2024

Our aim was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in post-stroke depression/anxiety disorders and to determine whether it reduces the need for anxiolytic and sedative drug use. This study included 54 stroke patients with depression and/or anxiety disorder. Patients were randomly assigned to the acupuncture treatment group (n = 27) or the control group (n = 27). A conventional rehabilitation program was applied to all patients and acupuncture was performed twice a week for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated blindly by a psychiatrist at baseline (week 0), week 4 and week 8, using the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), and drug doses were adjusted when necessary. The HAM-D and HAM-A scores at week 4 were pre-specified as the two primary outcome measures. Within each group, there was a significant decrease in the mean scores of HAM-D and HAM-A at weeks 4 and 8. No between-group differences in HAM-A or

Mobile Mindfulness Intervention for Psychological Distress Among Intensive Care Unit Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Cox CE, Gallis JA, Olsen MK, Porter LS, Gremore T, Greeson JM · JAMA internal medicine · 2024 · n=247

Although psychological distress is common among survivors of critical illness, there are few tailored therapies. To determine the optimal method for delivering a mindfulness intervention via a mobile app for critical illness survivors. This randomized clinical trial used a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design and was conducted at 3 sites among survivors of critical illness with elevated postdischarge symptoms of depression. The study was conducted between August 2019 and July 2023. Participants were randomized to 1 of 8 different groups as determined by 3 two-level intervention component combinations: intervention introduction method (mobile app vs therapist call), mindfulness meditation dose (once daily vs twice daily), and management of increasing symptoms (mobile app vs therapist call). The primary outcome was the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression scale score (range, 0-27) at 1 month. Secondary outcomes included anxiety (7-item Ge

The Gut Microbiome in Anxiety Disorders.

Butler MI, Kittel-Schneider S, Wagner-Skacel J, Mörkl S, Clarke G · Current psychiatry reports · 2025

We aim to update readers on the latest evidence regarding the role of the gut microbiome in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), agoraphobia, and social anxiety disorder (SAD). This review summarises the literature on microbiome composition and function in these conditions, provides insights about causality and mechanisms and evaluates current evidence for microbiome-based interventions in anxiety disorders. Most studies exploring the microbiome in anxiety disorders are small, cross-sectional studies. Nevertheless, some consistent findings emerge. Bacterial taxa such as Eubacterium, Coprococcus and Faecalibacterium may be depleted in GAD. Studies in PD and SAD are scarce and, to our knowledge, there have been no studies conducted in agoraphobia. Probiotics may help reduce anxiety symptoms, although the majority of studies have been in non-clinical cohorts. Large, prospective studies are required to further elucidate the role of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in anxi

Differential Outcomes of Placebo Treatment Across 9 Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Bschor T, Nagel L, Unger J, Schwarzer G, Baethge C · JAMA psychiatry · 2024

Placebo is the only substance systematically evaluated across common psychiatric diagnoses, but comprehensive cross-diagnostic comparisons are lacking. To compare changes in placebo groups in recent high-quality randomized clinical trials (RCTs) across a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders in adult patients. MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically searched in March 2022 for the latest systematic reviews meeting predetermined high-quality criteria for 9 major psychiatric diagnoses. Using these reviews, the top 10 highest-quality (ie, lowest risk of bias, according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool) and most recent placebo-controlled RCTs per diagnosis (totaling 90 RCTs) were selected, adhering to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following the Cochrane Handbook, 2 authors independently carried out the study search, selection, and data extraction. Cross-diagnosis comparisons were based on standardized pre-post effect sizes (mean c

The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Nursing Students' Stress and Anxiety Levels.

Heinrich DS, O'Connell KA · Nursing education perspectives · 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a virtual mindfulness meditation intervention on stress and anxiety levels of 145 nursing students. Because of the twin demands of classroom and clinical workloads, nursing students experience greater amounts of stress and anxiety than the average college student. Mindfulness meditation is a promising method to alleviate stress and anxiety. A pretest-posttest randomized controlled design was used. Participants received either weekly mindfulness meditation recordings or recordings on nursing information. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale. A two-way mixed analysis of variance and follow-up simple main effects tests revealed that participants in the experimental group, who received meditation recordings, experienced significantly lower levels of stress and anxiety on posttest surveys than the control group. Mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety levels in nur

Mental disorders: Anxiety disorders

WHO

This WHO fact sheet provides an overview of mental disorders, including specific information on anxiety disorders. It discusses their global impact, common types, and the importance of accessible mental health care.

Anxiety, fear and panic

NHS

This NHS page provides an overview of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), including symptoms, causes, and treatment options. It offers practical advice for managing anxiety.

Mental health

WHO

The WHO provides fact sheets and information on various aspects of mental health, including anxiety disorders, outlining global perspectives on prevalence, causes, and effective interventions. It emphasizes the importance of mental health as a fundamental human right.

TRIP Database Search: Anxiety Disorder

TRIP Database

TRIP Database is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find high-quality research evidence to support clinical practice. A search for 'Anxiety Disorder' provides access to a wide range of evidence-based resources, including guidelines, systematic reviews, and primary research.

Anxiety Disorder

TRIP Database

TRIP Database offers a clinical search engine to find high-quality evidence for clinical practice, including research, guidelines, and reviews on anxiety disorders from multiple sources.

Cochrane Reviews on Anxiety Disorders

Cochrane

The Cochrane Library provides a collection of systematic reviews on the effectiveness of healthcare interventions for anxiety disorders. These reviews synthesize evidence from multiple studies to inform clinical practice.