Behavioral interventions for office-based care: stress and anxiety disorders.

Numerous behavioral therapies have been investigated in the management of anxiety- and stress-related disorders. There is strong evidence to support cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the management of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social phobias. Adjunctive behavioral sleep intervention may enhance results for GAD, and initiation of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor for GAD before CBT also may enhance response.

Behavioral interventions for office-based care: depressive disorders.

Depressive disorders commonly are diagnosed and managed in primary care settings, and many patients prefer a nonpharmacologic approach. Traditionally, symptom reduction through pharmacotherapy has been the primary focus of management, but there is a growing acknowledgment of the need to develop modalities that prevent subsequent relapse and recurrences. Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral and interpersonal therapies, can have enduring effects that reduce subsequent risk in ways that drugs cannot.

Behavioral interventions for office-based care: behavior change.

Family physicians play an important role in identifying and treating the behavioral etiologies of morbidity and mortality. Changing behavior is a challenging process that begins with identifying a patient's readiness to change. Interventions, such as motivational interviewing, are used to increase a patient's desire to change, and cognitive behavioral therapy can be initiated to increase a patient's likelihood of change, particularly if barriers are identified.

Behavioral interventions for office-based care: interventions in the family medicine setting.

The practice of family medicine includes the care of many patients with mental health or behavior change needs. Patients in mild to moderate distress may benefit from brief interventions performed in the family physician's office. Patients in more extreme distress may be helped by referral to behavioral health clinicians for short-term or open-ended therapies.