The UCSF Medical Center department of psychiatry will take part in National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day on Wednesday, May 5 by offering a free lecture on anxiety disorders and free screenings with clinicians. The event will take place between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the auditorium at 401 Parnassus Avenue. More than 19 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, which are characterized by fear and anxiety that appear for no apparent reason.
Anxiety disorders can keep people from coping with stress and can disrupt daily life.
Medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and relaxation exercises help a significant percentage of people who suffer from severe anxiety. But there is a threshold where anxiety becomes destructive. We hope to identify those people who might benefit from formal psychiatric consultations or self-help techniques. Individual screenings will consist of a self-administered questionnaire followed by a meeting with a UCSF Langley Porter staff member. People who show signs of an anxiety disorder will be referred to additional information and resources.