Since all anxiety disorders can have medical cause or component, it is important for individuals to be thoroughly medically checked out before consulting psychological or psychiatric care. For instance, individuals who drink a lot of caffeine can present with many similar symptoms of anxiety, and even panic attacks. A good medical examination will rule out this and other biological or environmental causes and possibilities.
Anxiety is often a component found within many other mental disorders as well.
The most common mental disorder which presents with anxiety is depression. They are depressed and they are anxious because they are concerned about the ego dystonic nature of their depressed mood. A thorough initial evaluation is rudimentary to ruling out other possible and more appropriate diagnoses. Typically the most effective treatment will be an approach which incorporates both psychological and psychopharmacologic approaches. Clinicians should be especially watchful of the individual becoming psychologically or physiologically addicted to certain anti-anxiety medications, such as Xanax.