Sources & Key Research — Anxiety
Statistics
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022. Read the study.
Research and guidelines
- 1. Papola D, et al. (2024). Psychotherapies for generalized anxiety disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JAMA Psychiatry. A review of 65 trials: CBT, third-wave CBT and relaxation therapy all helped in the short term, and CBT’s benefits were still clear three to twelve months later. Read the review.
- 2. Sun L, et al. (2025). Psychotherapies for social anxiety disorder in adults: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. A review of 90 trials: CBT was the most effective therapy overall, and guided online programs worked about as well as face-to-face sessions. Read the review.
- 3. Melbourne Children’s Campus Mental Health Strategy (2024). Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline for Anxiety in Children and Young People. Endorsed by the RACGP. Australia’s first guideline for anxiety in young people: psychological therapy first, and medication not recommended as a first-line treatment. Read the guideline.
- 4. James AC, et al. (2020). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. A review of 87 studies: about half of young people who had CBT no longer met criteria for their main anxiety diagnosis afterwards, compared with fewer than one in five on a waitlist. CBT hadn’t clearly outperformed other active treatments. Read the review.
- 5. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2015). Prescribing drugs of dependence in general practice, Part B: Benzodiazepines. Summary of recommendations. CBT should be part of first-line treatment for GAD and panic; SSRIs and SNRIs generally suitable as first-line medicines; benzodiazepine use in anxiety mostly limited to severe or treatment-resistant cases and generally short term; avoid in people with alcohol or substance use disorders. Read the guidance.
